How to Write 竿 (gān) — Meaning “Pole or rod”

Visualize a bamboo fishing rod: the top part 竹 looks like two bamboo leaves, and the bottom part 干 is a dry straight stick. Imagine holding a bamboo pole that is long and dry to recall 竿.

Write the top 竹 with two small '个' shapes, then below write 干 with two horizontal strokes and a vertical stroke. Keep the vertical stroke of 干 centered under the bamboo radical. A common mistake is making the 干 part too tall or misaligning the vertical.

竿 has 干 (gān) at the bottom, while 竺 has a different bottom (used in the name 天竺 for India) and 竽 has 于 (yú) and means a reed instrument. Visually, the bottom parts differ: 干, 一+二, and 于. Also their meanings are unrelated.

竿 appears in common words like 鱼竿 (fishing rod), 竹竿 (bamboo pole), and 撑竿跳 (pole vault). It is used for any long thin rod, especially bamboo ones. Culturally, bamboo poles are traditional tools, and pole vaulting is a well-known sport in China.

Common words containing 竿 include: 鱼竿 (yú gān) — Fishing rod; 竹竿 (zhú gān) — Bamboo pole; 撑竿跳 (chēng gān tiào) — pole vault.