干 (gān/gàn) means "dry, to do, to work" with 3 strokes, radical 干 (dry), HSK 3 on the new exam.
Pronunciation
干 has 2 readings. Context (the surrounding word and part of speech) determines which reading applies.
Meaning
Primary: dry
Other meanings:
- to do
- to work
Etymology
Oracle-bone origin
The oracle-bone form of 干 depicts a forked weapon or shield, a Y-shaped or pronged implement used in hunting and combat. Scholars debate whether it represents a shield, a forked stick, or a hunting pole, but the weapon interpretation is the most widely accepted. The original object was clearly a physical tool, not an abstract idea.
Form evolution
The oracle-bone and bronze forms show a clear two-pronged top with a vertical shaft. Seal script regularised the prongs into a horizontal bar, giving a cross-like figure. Clerical and regular script reduced this to the three-stroke modern form: one horizontal on top, one longer horizontal, and one vertical.
How the meaning evolved
From 'shield or forked weapon' the character extended to 'to offend, to clash with' (as weapons do), then to 'to be involved with, to have to do with', and then to the general verb 'to do'. Separately, 干 became the simplified form of two unrelated traditional characters: 乾 (qián/gān, dry) and 幹 (gàn, trunk, to do). Modern 干 therefore carries three historically distinct word families merged onto one graph.
Cultural note
干 is one of the Ten Heavenly Stems (天干), a set used since Shang times for counting days and, combined with the Twelve Earthly Branches, for naming years in the sexagenary cycle. The compound 干戈 (shield and dagger-axe) is a standard literary metonym for war, as in 大动干戈 (to make a big fuss, literally 'to wield shields and axes').
Mnemonic
A simple shield — dry, to do
Basic info
| Pinyin | gān/gàn |
| Meanings | dry, to do, to work |
| Stroke count | 3 strokes |
| Radical | 干 (#51: dry) |
| New HSK exam | Recognise at HSK 3, write by hand at HSK 3 |
| Frequency | #43 most common |
Example sentences
Words containing 干
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 干净 | gānjìng | clean | HSK 3 |
| 饼干 | bǐnggān | Biscuits | HSK 4 |
| 干杯 | gānbēi | Cheers! | HSK 4 |
| 干 | gān | dry | HSK 3 |
| 干活儿 | gànhuór | work on a job | HSK 4 |
| 能干 | nénggàn | capable | HSK 5 |
| 干脆 | gāncuì | simply | HSK 6 |
| 干燥 | gānzào | Dry | HSK 6 |
| 才干 | cáigàn | ability, competence | HSK 7-9 |
| 干部 | gànbù | cadre, official | HSK 7-9 |
| 干旱 | gànhàn | drought | HSK 6 |
| 干劲 | gànjìn | enthusiasm, drive | HSK 7-9 |
| 干扰 | gānrǎo | to interfere, to disturb | HSK 6 |
| 干涉 | gānshè | to interfere, to meddle | HSK 7-9 |
| 干事 | gànshì | secretary, to work | HSK 7-9 |
Related characters
Similar meaning (abstract)
On the new HSK 3 exam
Studying for HSK 3? Keep 干 with the rest of your level.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.