桿
shield, pole
Readings
On'yomi
- カン
Kun'yomi
- てこ
Meaning
桿 centers on a long, rigid object used for support or leverage: a pole or a shield. The shield sense likely comes from the idea of a sturdy barrier held by a pole.
Most common words using 桿
- 桿菌かんきん
bacillus
- グラム陰性桿菌グラムいんせいかんきん
Gram-negative bacillus
- 乳酸桿菌にゅうさんかんきん
lactobacillus
- 排莢桿筒はいきょうかんとう
ejector tube; ejector housing (revolver)
- 操縦桿そうじゅうかん
control column; yoke; joystick
- 桿体かんたい
rod (cell)
- 桿体細胞かんたいさいぼう
rod cell; rod
- 桿状かんじょう
rod-shaped; bacillary; bacilliform; baculiform
- 桿状体かんじょうたい
rod (cell)
- 桿状核球かんじょうかくきゅう
band cell; stab cell
- 測桿そっかん
surveying pole
- 肺炎桿菌はいえんかんきん
Klebsiella pneumoniae
- 遮断桿しゃだんかん
gate arm
Study
Etymology
桿 combines 木 (tree/wood) with 旱, which likely contributes the sound カン. The character originally referred to a wooden pole or shaft.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 木 is wood, and the right side 旱 looks like a sun 日 over a dry shield 干. Picture a wooden pole used to hold up a shield against the sun.
Reading mnemonic
For カン, imagine a can attached to the end of a long wooden pole: can -> カン, and the pole holds the can high.