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March 24, 2026
堪kān(kan1)
The character 堪 (kān) primarily means 'to endure' or 'to be able to.' It is often used in contexts where someone's capacity to cope with a situation or their ability to achieve something is in question. Additionally, it can convey a sense of adequacy or worthiness in various situations.
Strokes12Radical土Frequency#5413DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the ability to endure hardship is often revered, as seen in proverbs and teachings that emphasize resilience and perseverance. The concept of 堪 reflects this cultural value of enduring through challenges.
Memory Tip
Imagine a sturdy wall (the '土' radical, meaning earth) supporting a heavy load (the '干' component) without collapsing. This wall represents your ability to 'endure' and 'carry on' in tough situations, just like the sound 'kān' resembles a determined person saying 'I can do this!'
Meanings of 堪
kān(kan1)
1to endure
2may
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 堪
堪Simplified
12Strokes
土Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#5413Frequency Rank
Podcast: 堪
Podcast: 堪
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AI Study Notes for 堪
Quick Contrast
堪 (kān) vs 能 (néng) — use 堪 when emphasizing endurance or coping ability, while 能 focuses on capability or potential.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the context in which you use 堪, as it can sometimes imply a sense of endurance that might not be appropriate in formal settings. Common collocations include '堪忧' (kān yōu - concerning) and '堪用' (kān yòng - usable). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that may change the meaning significantly.
HSK Study Tips
Although 堪 is not included in the HSK levels, it can be related to other HSK vocabulary that discusses ability and endurance, such as 能 (néng) and 可以 (kěyǐ). Focus on understanding its nuances and how it can complement expressions of capability.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 堪 with similar characters like 看 (kàn - to see), which leads to misinterpretation. For example, saying '我堪这个电影' (Wǒ kān zhège diànyǐng - I endure this movie) is incorrect; it should be '我看这个电影' (Wǒ kàn zhège diànyǐng - I watch this movie).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 堪
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1The giveawayOne with a considerable amount 甚 of land 土
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 堪? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 堪?
Decomposition of 堪
IDS Structure⿰土甚
堪Full Character
=
土Tu3
left
甚shen2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 堪?
How to say to endure in Chinese
“to endure” in Chinese is堪kān
The character 堪 (kān) primarily means 'to endure' or 'to be able to.' It is often used in contexts where someone's capacity to cope with a situation or their ability to achieve something is in question. Additionally, it can convey a sense of adequacy or worthiness in various situations.
When to use 堪
Be mindful of the context in which you use 堪, as it can sometimes imply a sense of endurance that might not be appropriate in formal settings. Common collocations include '堪忧' (kān yōu - concerning) and '堪用' (kān yòng - usable). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that may change the meaning significantly.
堪 or something close to it
堪 (kān) vs 能 (néng) — use 堪 when emphasizing endurance or coping ability, while 能 focuses on capability or potential.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes confuse 堪 with similar characters like 看 (kàn - to see), which leads to misinterpretation. For example, saying '我堪这个电影' (Wǒ kān zhège diànyǐng - I endure this movie) is incorrect; it should be '我看这个电影' (Wǒ kàn zhège diànyǐng - I watch this movie).
Write 堪
堪
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Practice writing 堪 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 堪
堪 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
