管 (guǎn) - tube, pipe & to manage, to control

管Tone 3

guǎn ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

管 · guǎn

tube, pipe;

to manage, to control;

a wind instrument;

a surname.

tube, pipeto manage, to controla wind instrument

Usage highlights

ManageWind instrumentWater pipeKey linkTake care ofTube

Synonyms

  • 理— to manage, to reason
  • 控— to control

Antonyms

  • 放— to release, to let go (antonym to the 'control' sense)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He plays the flute (吹管).
  • Water flows through the pipe (水管).
  • She manages the company's finances (管理财务).
  • This is a key piece of evidence (关键证据).

Collocations

  • Manage(管理)
  • Wind instrument(管乐器)
  • Water pipe(水管)
  • Key link(关键)
  • Take care of(管护)
  • Tube(管子)

Idioms

  • Mind your own business(多管闲事)
  • A frog at the bottom of a well(井底之蛙管窥天)
  • To manage household affairs(管家理事)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to a type of bamboo flute, a key instrument in ancient Chinese music.
  • The character's meaning extended from a physical tube to the abstract concept of management and control.
  • Guan Zhong (管仲), a famous prime minister of the Qi state during the Spring and Autumn period, made the surname 管 historically significant.

FAQ