scroll, volume, book, part, roll up, wind up, tie, coil, counter for texts (or book scrolls)
巻 centers on the idea of rolling or winding something into a cylindrical form, which naturally extends to scrolls, books, and volumes as rolled-up texts, and to parts or chapters as sections of a rolled scroll.
巻 is the modern Japanese simplified form of 卷. The older form combines 龹 (a phonetic element) with 㔾 (a kneeling person), suggesting rolling or bending. The modern form replaces the lower part with 己.
The top 龹 looks like a rolled-up scroll tied with a string, and the bottom 己 resembles a coiled shape. Together they show something rolled up, like a scroll or a book volume.
For カン, imagine a can of scrolls: you roll up each scroll and store it in a can. Can -> カン, and the can holds the rolled volumes.
roll (e.g. of cloth)
to wind; to coil; to roll; to wear (e.g. turban, scarf)
complete set (of volumes); every volume
tornado; whirlwind; waterspout; twister
to roll up; to enfold; to swallow up
highlight; best part
beginning (of a book, magazine, etc.); opening page
getting mixed up in; getting embroiled in; involvement; entanglement; by-blow
lifting; hoisting; furling; winding
to surround; to encircle; to enclose
makikomi (judo throw)
end of a book
followers; hangers-on
cigar
to whirl; to eddy; to swirl; to curl (of smoke)
sweeping (over, across); conquering; overwhelming
makimono; handscroll; rolled book
picture scroll
second volume (in a two-volume set); third volume (in a three-volume set); last volume
rally; recovery; comeback; rollback