Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
桿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
桿gāncane, pole, stickx, 11 strokes, radical 木
gān(gan1)gan T1
  1. 1cane, pole, stick
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

桿gān(gan1)

The character 桿 (gān) refers to a long, slender object such as a cane, pole, or stick. It is commonly used in contexts involving physical support or as a tool for various activities, like fishing or sports. The nuance of this word often implies a rigid or sturdy object that provides balance or leverage.

Strokes11Radical木
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, canes or poles are often associated with traditional crafts, such as bamboo weaving. They also play a role in various sports like pole vaulting, which is gaining popularity in schools.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tall, strong bamboo pole (the form of 桿) standing upright, supporting a tightrope walker. The top of the pole resembles the character's left part (木, meaning wood), emphasizing that it is made from a solid material. The sound 'gān' can remind you of 'can' as in 'can support you'.

Meanings of 桿

gān(gan1)
1cane, pole, stick
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 桿 means.

About 桿

桿Simplified
11Strokes
木Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 桿

JasonAmy

Podcast: 桿

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 桿

Quick Contrast

杆 (gǎn) refers specifically to a rod or pole used in fishing or sports, while 桿 (gān) has a broader meaning of any long, slender object. The distinction lies in the specific usage context.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 桿 with similar-sounding characters like 干 (gān), which means to do or to干涉 (interfere). Be careful with tone; 桿 is pronounced with a high-level tone, while 干 is pronounced with a falling tone. It's often used in technical contexts, such as fishing rods or sports equipment.

HSK Study Tips

Though 桿 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be connected to other HSK words that involve tools or instruments (like 工具, gōngjù). Students should pay attention to its usage in specific contexts to expand their vocabulary related to physical objects.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 桿 with the character 杆 (gān), which is the simplified version. For instance, saying '我有一根桿' (I have a stick) using 桿 instead of 杆 is incorrect in contexts where simplification is expected.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 桿

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 桿 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 桿 to You

Let me explain 桿 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 桿 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 桿?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 桿 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 桿

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 干 represents the sound. Simplified form of 桿.

Memory Hint

wood

Semantic (meaning)木
+
Phonetic (sound)旱
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

桿 = 木 + 旱. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 桿

IDS Structure⿰木旱
桿Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
旱han4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 桿?

How to say cane, pole, stick in Chinese

“cane, pole, stick” in Chinese is桿gān

The character 桿 (gān) refers to a long, slender object such as a cane, pole, or stick. It is commonly used in contexts involving physical support or as a tool for various activities, like fishing or sports. The nuance of this word often implies a rigid or sturdy object that provides balance or leverage.

When to use 桿

Common mistakes include confusing 桿 with similar-sounding characters like 干 (gān), which means to do or to干涉 (interfere). Be careful with tone; 桿 is pronounced with a high-level tone, while 干 is pronounced with a falling tone. It's often used in technical contexts, such as fishing rods or sports equipment.

桿 or something close to it

杆 (gǎn) refers specifically to a rod or pole used in fishing or sports, while 桿 (gān) has a broader meaning of any long, slender object. The distinction lies in the specific usage context.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 桿 with the character 杆 (gān), which is the simplified version. For instance, saying '我有一根桿' (I have a stick) using 桿 instead of 杆 is incorrect in contexts where simplification is expected.

Write 桿

桿

Practice writing 桿 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 桿?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Word Family of 桿

Words Containing This Character20
杆gǎnstick桿
杆菌bacillus (any rod-shaped bacteria)桿菌
栏杆lángānrailing欄杆
杠杆gànggǎnlever槓桿
铁杆iron rod鐵桿
电线杆electric pole電線杆
杆子pole桿子
旗杆flagpole
大肠杆菌Escherichia coli (E. coli)大腸桿菌
标杆surveyor's pole標杆
推杆putter (golf)推桿
桅杆mast
操纵杆joystick操縱桿
拉杆tension bar
撑杆跳pole-vaulting撐桿跳
电杆electric pole電杆
螺杆screw螺桿
枪杆子gun barrel槍桿子
吊杆a boom (i.e. transverse beam for hanging objects)
笔杆子pen筆桿子
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 桿

What does 杆 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 桿

You can say '我需要一根桿来钓鱼' (I need a pole to go fishing).

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 桿?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab