槓 (gàng) - lever & thick pole

槓Tone 4

gàng ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

槓 · gàng

lever;

thick pole;

bar;

to dispute;

to argue;

to contradict;

in mahjong, to kong (declare a set of four identical tiles)

leverthick polebar

Usage highlights

leverhorizontal barto argueto kong in mahjongbarrelthick stick

Synonyms

  • 桿— pole, rod, stick
  • 棒— stick, club
  • 杠— bar, thick line (simplified variant)

Antonyms

  • 順— agree, comply
  • 從— follow, obey

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He used a lever to lift the heavy object (用槓桿撬起重物).
  • They installed a horizontal bar for exercise (安裝單槓鍛煉).
  • The two sides argued fiercely over the issue (雙方在問題上激烈抬槓).
  • In mahjong, I declared a kong (打麻將時我槓了).

Collocations

  • lever(槓桿)
  • horizontal bar(單槓)
  • to argue(抬槓)
  • to kong in mahjong(開槓)
  • barrel(槍槓)
  • thick stick(粗槓)

Idioms

  • To pick a quarrel(抬槓)
  • Lever principle(槓桿原理)
  • To lock horns(槓上了)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese gaming culture, particularly mahjong, '槓' refers to the action of declaring a set of four identical tiles, which can significantly change the game dynamics.
  • The character carries connotations of strength and mechanical advantage through its association with levers and bars.
  • In colloquial usage, '抬槓' describes argumentative behavior where someone habitually contradicts others.

FAQ