Chinese Character: 棍
1. Character Basics
Radical: 木/mù (wood), 昆/kūn (insect)
Stroke Count: 12 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Gùn (Fourth tone)
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning: Stick; club; cudgel
Extended Meaning: Wand; rod; staff; bar
Additional Meaning: Used metaphorically to describe things shaped like sticks; used in various idioms
4. Common Words
- 木棍 (mù gùn): Wooden stick
Example: 他用木棍支撑着受伤的腿。(Tā yòng mù gùn zhī chēng zhe shòu shāng de tuǐ.) - He supported his injured leg with a wooden stick. - 铁棍 (tiě gùn): Iron rod
Example: 工人用铁棍撬开了生锈的门。(Gōng rén yòng tiě gùn qiào kāi le shēng xiù de mén.) - The worker pried open the rusty door with an iron rod. - 棍棒 (gùn bàng): Cudgel; club
Example: 警察使用警棍维持秩序。(Jǐng chá shǐ yòng jǐng gùn wéi chí zhì xù.) - The police used batons to maintain order. - 魔术棍 (mó shù gùn): Magic wand
Example: 魔术师挥舞魔术棍，变出了一只兔子。(Mó shù shī huī wǔ mó shù gùn, biàn chū le yī zhī tù zi.) - The magician waved his magic wand and produced a rabbit. - 拐棍 (guǎi gùn): Walking stick; crutch
Example: 老人拄着拐棍慢慢地走。(Lǎo rén zhǔ zhe guǎi gùn màn màn de zǒu.) - The old man walked slowly with a walking stick.
5. Grammar & Usage
Noun Usage:
- Most commonly used as a noun referring to various types of sticks or rods
- Often used with classifiers like "根" (gēn) or "条" (tiáo)
- Can be combined with other characters to form compound nouns
Common Structures:
- 材质 + 棍: 木棍 (wooden stick), 铁棍 (iron rod)
- 棍 + 用途: 警棍 (police baton), 拐棍 (walking stick)
- 动作 + 棍: 挥棍 (swing a stick), 舞棍 (wield a stick)
Collocations:
- 与表示长度的词组合: 长棍 (long stick), 短棍 (short stick)
- 与表示用途的词组合: 指挥棍 (baton), 接力棍 (baton in relay race)
6. Cultural Background
The character "棍" has significant cultural meanings in Chinese society:
- In traditional Chinese martial arts, various types of sticks (棍法) are important weapons and training tools
- The Shaolin staff (少林棍法) is one of the most famous martial arts techniques in China
- In Chinese folklore, there are many stories involving magical sticks, such as the Monkey King's golden cudgel (金箍棒)
- There are idioms containing "棍", such as 打光棍 (dǎ guāng gùn) meaning "to remain unmarried" or 恶棍 (è gùn) meaning "villain"
- Sticks have been used as tools, weapons, and symbols in Chinese culture for thousands of years
7. Example Sentence
Example 1:
孩子们在公园里玩木棍游戏。
(Hái zi men zài gōng yuán lǐ wán mù gùn yóu xì.)
The children are playing stick games in the park.
Example 2:
这位老人每天都拄着拐棍去散步。
(Zhè wèi lǎo rén měi tiān dōu zhǔ zhe guǎi gùn qù sàn bù.)
This old man goes for a walk with a walking stick every day.
Example 3:
警察用警棍隔开了闹事的人群。
(Jǐng chá yòng jǐng gùn gé kāi le nào shì de rén qún.)
The police used batons to separate the rioting crowd.
8. Memory Tips
Here are some tips to help you remember the character "棍":
- Component Breakdown: 木 (wood) + 昆 (insect) = 棍 (stick). Imagine a wooden stick used to catch insects
- Image Association: Picture a long, straight wooden stick, and remember that "棍" represents this object
- Sound Association: The pronunciation "gùn" rhymes with the English word "gun", but with a different tone
- Writing Practice: Focus on the structure - the left side is 木 (mù), and the right side is 昆 (kūn)
- Usage Note: Remember that "棍" is commonly used to refer to various types of sticks and rods in Chinese