gàn

干

HSK 1Character · Noun · Verb · AdjectiveTraditional幹、榦

trunk; cadre; do

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

6 senses · 11 examples
1.

noun

trunk; main part

Commonly used to describe physical objects or organizational structures.

Zhè这
kē棵
shù树
de的
shù树
gàn干
hěn很
cū粗
zhuàng壮
 。

The trunk of this tree is very thick and strong.

Gǔ骨
gàn干
lì力
liàng量
zài在
xiàng项
mù目
zhōng中
qǐ起
dào到
guān关
jiàn键
zuò作
yòng用
 。

Key backbone forces play a key role in the project.

2.

noun

cadre; official

Commonly used in official and organizational contexts.

Wǒ我
men们
yào要
diào调
dòng动
gàn干
bù部
hé和
qún群
zhòng众
de的
jī积
jí极
xìng性
 。

We must mobilize the enthusiasm of cadres and the masses.

Lǐng领
dǎo导
gàn干
bù部
yào要
yǐ以
shēn身
zuò作
zé则
 。

Leading cadres should set an example by their own actions.

3.

verb

to do; to work

One of the most common meanings of the character in this pronunciation.

Tā他
zhèng正
zài在
mái埋
tóu头
kǔ苦
gàn干
wán完
chéng成
rèn任
wù务
 。

He is working hard to complete the task.

Zhōu周
mò末
wǒ我
yào要
bàng帮
bà爸
ba爸
gàn干
jiā家
wù务
huó活
 。

I will help my dad do housework on the weekend.

Show 1 more example
Wǒ我
men们
yào要
shí实
gàn干
xīng兴
bāng邦
 ,
bù不
yào要
kōng空
tán谈
 。

We should revitalize the country through practical work, not empty talk.

4.

adjective

capable; competent

Used to describe people with strong abilities.

Tā他
shì是
gè个
gàn干
liàn练
de的
zhí职
chǎng场
jīng精
yīng英
 。

He is a capable workplace elite.

Zhè这
gè个
tuán团
duì队
lǐ里
yǒu有
hěn很
duō多
gàn干
jiàng将
 。

There are many capable people in this team.

5.

verb

to hold a position; to engage in

Used to describe past job experiences.

Tā他
céng曾
jīng经
gàn干
guò过
chǎng厂
zhǎng长
de的
zhí职
wèi位
 。

He once held the position of factory director.

6.

verb

to go wrong; to mess up

dialect

Used only in northern Chinese dialects.

Yào要
gàn干
le了
 ,
wǒ我
bǎ把
yào钥
shi匙
wàng忘
zài在
wū屋
lǐ里
le了
 。

Oh no, I left my keys inside the house.