Chinese character 干

Translate the whole word, not just 干.

The Mandarin readings gān and gàn help distinguish meanings. In simplified Chinese, 干燥 means “dry” and 干净 means “clean”: the second character matters. Simplified writing also uses 干 for some meanings that traditional Chinese writes with separate characters.

Where did 干 come from?

Early forms appear in oracle-bone and bronze inscriptions.

The character evolved in ancient Chinese writing, including inscriptions on bones used for divination and on bronze objects. One interpretation sees a shield, connecting it with protection; another sees a forked hunting implement. The shield interpretation fits an established meaning, but the original object depicted remains disputed.

Classical meanings include “shield” and “interfere”; 干戈 combines it with 戈, a weapon, to evoke arms or conflict. The simplified spellings for “dry” and “do” do not prove those meanings developed from “shield.” Beyond Chinese, Japanese 干す means “to dry”; in Hanja, the Chinese characters used in Korean, 干 is read 간.

Is 干 a swear word?

It can be; ordinary words containing it aren't automatically vulgar.

In informal Chinese, a lone 干 can be a vulgar outburst (usage as of 2026-09-07). If someone sends only this character, ask what they meant before treating it as an insult directed at you.