interval, space
間 centers on a gap or separation between things: an interval of time or a space between objects. The core idea is the measurable or conceptual distance that lies between two points.
time
time; pause
interval; period of time
space (between); gap; interval; distance; stretch
human being; human; person; man; mankind; humankind
period; term; interval
week
(period of) a year
mistake; error; blunder
companion; fellow; friend; mate; comrade; partner; colleague; coworker; associate
moment; instant; second
to be mistaken; to be incorrect; to be wrong
to make a mistake (in); to commit an error; to get wrong; to do incorrectly
space; room; airspace
private; non-governmental; non-official; civilian; civil
to be in time (for)
world; society; people; the public
middle; midway; halfway; centre; center
time; labour; labor; effort
the other day; lately; recently; during this period
daytime; during the day; time from sunrise until sunset; diurnal period
minutes (period of)
long time; several hours; long spell
soon; shortly; before long; in a short time; in a little while
間 combines 門 (gate) and 日 (sun), suggesting sunlight seen through a gap in a gate, which conveys the idea of an interval or space.
Picture a gate 門 with the sun 日 peeking through the gap between its doors. That gap is the interval or space that 間 represents.
For カン, imagine a can wedged in the gap of the gate, holding the doors apart: can -> カン, and the can creates the interval.