dry, parch, ebb, recede, interfere, intercede
干 centers on the idea of removing moisture or presence: drying, parching, or causing something to ebb and recede. The interfering sense extends this to inserting oneself into a situation, as if drying up the normal flow.
干 originally depicted a forked branch or pestle used for pounding or drying grain, later extended to mean dry or interfere. The modern form retains the simple three-stroke shape.
The two horizontal lines look like a drying rack, and the vertical line is something hung to dry. Picture a towel draped over a bar, drying in the sun.
For カン, imagine a can of desiccant drying out the air: can -> カン, and the can absorbs all moisture.
some; few; a number of; a little (bit)
interference; intervention; meddling
drying; dried
umeboshi; pickled dried ume; pickled dried plum
sexagenary cycle; 60-term cycle of 12 zodiac animals combined with 5 elements in the traditional Chinese calendar; currently used in Japan for years, historically also for days
dried fish (or shellfish, etc.)
to air; to dry; to desiccate
(small crunchy) dried sardines
low tide; low water; ebb
frame for drying clothes; clotheshorse
tidal flat; tideland
drought; long spell (period) of dry weather
sun-dried
to drink up; to drink to the last drop; to drink (a glass) dry; to drain (one's glass); to empty; to down (a drink)
clam digging (at low tide); clamming; shellfish gathering
dried persimmons
land reclamation (from sea)
railing; guard rail; handrail; banister; balustrade; parapet
hay; dry grass
abstention; nonintervention; noninterference