干
Character learning workspace

gān / gàn · arid, dry

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 4HSK 3.0 · Level 3Frequency #463
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Learn every stroke in 干

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

干 has 2 dictionary pronunciations. The examples show how each reading behaves in real words.

gān

dry; dried food; empty; hollow

干净gān jìng · clean
gàn

tree trunk; main part of sth; to manage

干活儿gàn huó ér · erhua variant of 幹活|干活[gan4 huo2]
Step-by-step explorer

See how 干 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

干
Complete decomposition unavailableThis character is currently indexed as a single visual form.
Writing notes

Shape and proportion

3Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Single-componentCharacter structure

Keep the whole form centered inside the writing square.

十Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 干 writing sheet

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 干

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

gāndry; dried food; empty; hollow
gàntree trunk; main part of sth; to manage
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Example sentences

Notice where 干 sits in each complete thought.

Tā men shuō tā shì yí gè hěn nénggàn de rén.他们说他是一个很能干的人。

They say that he is an able man.

Source: Tatoeba #1785934 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā shì gè nénggàn de nán rén.他是个能干的男人。

He is a man of ability.

Source: Tatoeba #366865 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ tài nénggàn le.你太能干了。

You're really something.

Source: Tatoeba #559007 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ bù gān le.我不干了。

I quit.

Source: Tatoeba #9569182 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Bù gān wǒ de shì!不干我的事!

Don't bother me!

Source: Tatoeba #1636171 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ juéde zhè shì shì shuí gān de?你觉得这事是谁干的?

Do you have any idea who would do this?

Source: Tatoeba #2680419 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 干 in context

  1. Say gān / gàn, then recall the core meaning: arid, dry.
  2. Write all 3 strokes while keeping the single-component balanced.
  3. Use it in 干净 (gān jìng), meaning “clean”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 干 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.