杆

gān
#2,008 most
frequent character
pole, staff
noun
Measure words:条 tiáo,根 gēn

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

杆 uses 木 wood as its meaning part and 干 gàn as its sound part. It first meant a long staff made of wood. The sense widened to pole and lever; read gǎn, it counts long objects.

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Example Sentences

他手里拿着一根杆子。
tā shǒulǐ ná zháo yīgēn gānzi 。
He is holding a pole in his hand.
这根杆子太长了，我们需要另一根。
zhè gēn gānzi tàicháng le ， wǒmen xūyào lìngyī gēn 。
This pole is too long; we need another one.
他用杆子钓鱼。
tāyòng gānzi diàoyú 。
He uses a pole to fish.

Same Characters, Different Readings

杆gǎn
stick, pole, lever

Words with similar meanings

柱zhù
pillar
More specific to a supporting structure, often more formal.
棒bàng
stick
A thinner and often shorter object, more informal.

Homophones

干gān
do
干gān
do
肝gān
liver
甘gān
(bound form) sweet

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