杆 (gān) - pole & rod

杆Tone 1

gān ｜ 7 strokes ｜ radical: 木

枫惠

杆 · gān

pole;

rod;

stick;

also pronounced gǎn meaning shaft or handle

polerodstick

Usage highlights

flagpolefishing rodpenholderleverbarpiston rod

Synonyms

  • 竿— pole, rod (similar meaning)
  • 棒— stick, club
  • 棍— rod, stick

Antonyms

  • 绳— rope, cord (flexible vs rigid)
  • 线— thread, line (thin vs thick)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The flagpole (旗杆) is very tall.
  • He uses a fishing rod (钓竿) to fish.
  • The penholder (笔杆) is made of wood.
  • Electricity wires are on the pole (电线杆).

Collocations

  • flagpole(旗杆)
  • fishing rod(钓竿)
  • penholder(笔杆)
  • lever(杠杆)
  • bar(杆子)
  • piston rod(活塞杆)

Idioms

  • To add fuel to the flames (火上浇油) - sometimes used with 杆 in specific contexts
  • Lever principle(杠杆原理)
  • To stir up trouble (挑拨离间) - related to using a pole to stir

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically used for various tools and implements in Chinese agriculture and daily life.
  • In modern contexts, appears in technical terms related to mechanics and engineering.
  • The character combines wood (木) with dry (干), suggesting a dried wooden pole.

FAQ