雁
wild goose
Readings
On'yomi
- ガン
Kun'yomi
- かり
- かりがね
Meaning
雁 centers on the wild goose, a migratory waterbird known for its V-shaped flight formations and seasonal return.
Most common words using 雁
20 of 49- 雁垂れがんだれ
kanji "cliff" radical (radical 27)
- 雁かり
wild goose
- 雁がん
wild goose
- 雁字搦めがんじがらめ
binding (someone) hand and foot
- 雁首かりくび
corona of glans penis; corona glandis penis
- 雁首がんくび
head (of a Japanese pipe, i.e. the bowl and shank)
- 落雁らくがん
rakugan; dry confection of starch (e.g. rice, soy or barley flour) and sugar, mixed and pressed into a pattern
- カナダ雁カナダがん
Canada goose (Branta canadensis); Canadian goose
- ハワイ雁ハワイがん
Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis); nene
- 四十雀雁しじゅうからがん
Aleutian Canada goose (Branta canadensis leucopareia)
- 孤雁こがん
solitary wild goose (i.e. separated from its flock, esp. flying)
- 帰雁きがん
wild geese returning north in the spring
- 沈魚落雁ちんぎょらくがん
charms of a uniquely beautiful woman; (so beautiful that) fish stay on the bottom of water and flying wild geese fall from the sky in shame
- 沈魚落雁閉月羞花ちんぎょらくがんへいげつしゅうか
charms of a uniquely beautiful woman; (so beautiful that) fish stay on the bottom of water and flying wild geese fall from the sky in shame
- 灰色雁はいいろがん
eastern greylag goose (aquatic bird, Anser anser)
- 犬雁足いぬがんそく
Oriental ostrich fern (Pentarhizidium orientale)
- 疣雁木エイいぼがんぎエイ
thornback ray (Raja clavata); thornback skate
- 白雁はくがん
snow goose (Chen caerulescens); blue goose
- 真雁まがん
greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons)
- 過雁かがん
flying goose
Study
Etymology
雁 combines 厂 (cliff) with 隹 (bird), suggesting a bird associated with cliffs or high places. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the character likely depicts a goose in a rocky environment.
Meaning mnemonic
Under the cliff (厂), a bird (隹) with a distinctive call flies in formation: that's the wild goose (雁).
Reading mnemonic
For ガン, imagine a wild goose honking loudly: "Gan! Gan!" The sound of the honk cues the reading ガン.