槓
lever
Readings
On'yomi
- コウ
Kun'yomi
- てこ
Meaning
槓 centers on a rigid bar used to apply force: a lever. The meaning is narrow and technical, referring to the simple machine.
Most common words using 槓
- 三槓子サンカンツ
three kongs; winning hand containing three kongs
- 加槓かカン
forming a kong by adding a tile drawn from the wall to a declared pung
- 四槓子スーカンツ
winning hand consisting of four kongs and a pair
- 大明槓ダイミンカン
turning a concealed pung into an open kong by calling another player's discard
- 小明槓ショウミンカン
forming a four-of-a-kind by adding a self-drawn tile to an open three-of-a-kind
- 搶槓チャンカン
winning on a tile robbed from another player's kong
- 暗槓アンカン
declaring a concealed kong; forming a concealed four-of-a-kind
- 槓カン
forming a four-of-a-kind; declaring a kong
- 槓ドラカンドラ
dora tile revealed when a player declares a kong
- 槓子カンツ
kong; four-of-a-kind
- 槓杆こうかん
lever
Study
Etymology
槓 combines 木 (wood) with 貢, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to a wooden lever or bar.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is wood 木, and the right side 貢 looks like a heavy object being lifted. Picture a wooden lever prying up a heavy tribute 貢.
Reading mnemonic
For コウ, imagine using a lever to lift a heavy coal コウ (鉱) cart: coal -> コウ, and the wooden lever does the work.