堪

kān
#1,809 most
frequent character
(bound form) may, can

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

堪 pairs 土 land with 甚 shén, the sound part. It first meant a piece of land that sticks out, then grew to a stone display chamber, then 'to endure', 'can', and 'may'. The sound link is unclear in modern Mandarin.

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Homophones

看kān
to look after, to take care of
刊kān
to print, to publish, publication

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