Meanings of 貫
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About 貫
Podcast: 貫
Podcast: 貫
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AI Study Notes for 貫
串 (chuàn) — use 貫 (guàn) when emphasizing the act of piercing or connecting in a more formal or historical context, while 串 (chuàn) is more casual and commonly used for stringing items together.
Learners often confuse 貫 with similar-sounding characters, so pay attention to context. It is more formal and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 貫穿 (guànchuān, to penetrate) and 貫徹 (guànchè, to carry out thoroughly).
Although 貫 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is useful for learners at higher levels as they encounter historical texts or discussions about traditional currency. Focus on recognizing and using this character in written form to understand its nuances in context.
Learners sometimes confuse 貫 with the character 貨 (huò), which means 'goods' or 'merchandise.' Make sure to use 貫 specifically in contexts relating to piercing or strings of coins, not general trade.
Pronunciation of 貫
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Etymology of 貫
Simplified form of 貫. Phonosemantic compound. 貝 represents the meaning and 毌 represents the sound. Originally written as 毌, a pictograph of a string being pierced through something. The 貝 component was added later, conveying a string of shells
money
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 貫
Simplified form of 貫. Phonosemantic compound. 貝 represents the meaning and 毌 represents the sound. Originally written as 毌, a pictograph of a string being pierced through something. The 貝 component was added later, conveying a string of shells
- 1The meaning half貝 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half毌 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaymoney
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 貫? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 貫
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How to say to pierce, to string up; a string of 1000 coins in Chinese
“to pierce, to string up; a string of 1000 coins” in Chinese is貫
The character 貫 (guàn) primarily means 'to pierce' or 'to string up,' often used in contexts where objects are linked or connected. It can also refer to a string of coins, traditionally representing a thousand coins in Chinese currency, highlighting its historical significance in trade and economy.
When to use 貫
Learners often confuse 貫 with similar-sounding characters, so pay attention to context. It is more formal and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 貫穿 (guànchuān, to penetrate) and 貫徹 (guànchè, to carry out thoroughly).
貫 or something close to it
串 (chuàn) — use 貫 (guàn) when emphasizing the act of piercing or connecting in a more formal or historical context, while 串 (chuàn) is more casual and commonly used for stringing items together.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes confuse 貫 with the character 貨 (huò), which means 'goods' or 'merchandise.' Make sure to use 貫 specifically in contexts relating to piercing or strings of coins, not general trade.
Write 貫
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Practice writing 貫 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 貫
Compound Meaning
What does 贯彻 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 貫
In modern usage, 貫 is less common but still relevant when discussing historical currency or specific contexts like martial arts, where it describes piercing movements.
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