How to Write 罐 (guàn) — Meaning “can / jar / pot”

Picture a pottery jar (缶) with a tall bird (the right side 雚, which contains 隹 meaning "bird") standing on its lid. The bird has grass under its feet (the 艹 at the top of 雚), making a funny image that helps you recall the 23 strokes.

The left radical 缶 should be written narrow and slightly shorter, while the right side 雚 is wider and taller. Pay special attention to the six horizontal strokes in 隹 at the bottom—they must be evenly spaced and parallel to keep the character balanced.

罐头 (guàn tou) means "canned food" and is used when talking about food preserved in metal cans, like 罐头水果 (canned fruit). 水罐 (shuǐ guàn) means "water jug" and refers to a large container for storing drinking water. 罐装 (guàn zhuāng) is an adjective meaning "canned" or "in a jar."

罐 is used for any sealable container, from metal food cans to large pottery jars for water or pickles. In Chinese culture, traditional 罐 made of clay are still used for storing soy sauce or rice wine, and the character appears in words like 罐车 (tank truck) for transporting liquids.

Common words containing 罐 include: 罐头 (guàn tou) — Canned food; 水罐 (shuǐ guàn) — Water jug; 罐装 (guàn zhuāng) — Canned.