How to Write 筻 (gàng) — Meaning “bamboo pole (used in weaving)”

Picture a bamboo pole (竹) that you use to 'change' (更) the pattern of a weaving loom. Every time you push the pole, the weave changes, so remember: bamboo + change = weaving pole.

Write the top 竹 radical first, with each side as two strokes (left: 撇、横， right: 撇、横). Then write the bottom 更: start with a horizontal stroke, then 曰 (four strokes: vertical, horizontal fold, horizontal, horizontal), then 乂 (two strokes: 撇, 捺). A common mistake is making the 竹 too wide or forgetting the horizontal stroke inside 曰.

All three have the 竹 radical, but their bottoms differ: 筻 has 更 (change), 笙 has 生 (life/birth), and 笛 has 由 (from/cause). 筻 means a bamboo weaving pole, while 笙 is a mouth organ and 笛 is a flute. Visually, 更 contains 曰 and 乂, which is unique.

筻 is very rare and mostly appears in place names, such as 筻口 (Gangkou) in Hunan Province. It is also used in some regional dialects to describe bamboo sticks or frames for weaving, but it is not part of common vocabulary or HSK lists.

Common words containing 筻 include: 筻口 (gàng kǒu) — Gangkou (a place name); 筻子 (gàng zi) — bamboo stick; 竹筻 (zhú gàng) — Bamboo stick; bamboo frame.