竿
Meanings
A long, slender rod or pole, such as a fishing rod, clothes-drying pole, or carrying pole.
My father bought a new fishing rod.
I hang the laundry on the pole.
neck (of a shamisen, etc.); shamisen
Only when written 棹
The long neck of a shamisen or similar stringed instrument; also used metonymically for the instrument itself. The kanji 棹 is especially common for this sense.
The neck of a shamisen is often made of rosewood.
The horizontal crossbar of a balance scale. A somewhat specialized term.
When the beam of the balance is level, the weights are equal.
single line (formation of geese)
Describes geese or other birds flying in a single line. A somewhat literary or descriptive term.
The geese fly off in a single line.
Slang term for the penis, likening it to a rod or pole.
In dirty jokes, the word 竿 is sometimes used.
counter for flags on poles; counter for long, thin sweets
Used as a counter for flags on poles, or for long, thin Japanese sweets such as yōkan.
Three flags on poles are standing.
I bought one block of yōkan.
Usage patterns
- 竿を出すto go fishing (lit. to put out a rod)
I went fishing for the first time in a while.
- 〈物〉を竿にかけるto hang something on a pole (e.g. laundry)
I hung the laundry on the pole to dry.
- 竿を振るto cast a fishing rod
I tried casting my rod on the shore of the lake.