菅 (jiān) - A type of grass or sedge & also used in Japanese surnames.

菅Tone 1

jiān ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

嘉健

菅 · jiān

A type of grass or sedge;

also used in Japanese surnames.

A type of grass or sedgealso used in Japanese surnames.

Usage highlights

Sedge grassSedge hatSedge matSugawaraKanteiWild sedge

Synonyms

  • 草— grass (general term)
  • 茅— cogon grass (used for thatching)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The thatched roof was made of sedge (菅草).
  • He has a Japanese surname Kan (菅).
  • Sedge mats were used in traditional homes (菅席).
  • The plant grows in wetlands (菅原).

Collocations

  • Sedge grass(菅草)
  • Sedge hat(菅笠)
  • Sedge mat(菅席)
  • Sugawara (Japanese surname)(菅原)
  • Kantei (Japanese Prime Minister's office)(菅直人)
  • Wild sedge(野菅)

Idioms

  • Pull up sedge and thatch a roof(拔菅覆屋)
  • Sedge and thorn(菅蒯)
  • Sedge sandals(菅屨)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically used for thatching roofs and making mats in East Asia.
  • In Japan, 菅 (Kan) is a common surname, notably associated with former Prime Minister Kan Naoto.
  • The character appears in place names like Sugawara (菅原), meaning 'sedge field'.

FAQ