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矸 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
矸gāncliff; rockn, 8 strokes, radical 石
矸gāna rock or cliffunknown, 8 strokes, radical 石
gān(gan1) T1
  1. 1cliff; rock
  2. 2a rock or cliff
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March 24, 2026

矸gān(gan1)

The character 矸 (gān) refers to a cliff or a rock, often used in the context of natural landscapes. It emphasizes the ruggedness and sheer verticality of rocky formations, typically found in mountainous regions. This word is less commonly used in daily conversation but may appear in literary or descriptive contexts.

Strokes8Radical石
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, cliffs and rocks are often associated with strength and stability, frequently appearing in poetry and art. The appreciation for nature's rugged beauty is evident in traditional Chinese paintings that depict mountainous landscapes.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant rock (矸) standing on the edge of a cliff. The character consists of the radical 石 (stone) on the left, reminding you that it relates to rocks, and the right side sounds like 'gan,' which can be remembered as a giant 'gan' (rock) waiting to fall off the cliff. Picture it teetering on the edge!

Meanings of 矸

gān(gan1)
1cliff; rock
2a rock or cliff
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 矸 means.

About 矸

矸Simplified
8Strokes
石Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 矸

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Podcast: 矸

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AI Study Notes for 矸

Usage Notes

When using 矸, be aware that it is more formal and may not be understood in casual conversation. It is often paired with words related to nature, like 山 (mountain) or 崖 (cliff). A common mistake is to confuse it with similar sounding characters that have different meanings, such as 干 (gān), which means 'to do' or 'dry.'

HSK Study Tips

Though 矸 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be connected to HSK Level 3 words like 山 (mountain) and 岩 (rock). Focus on recognizing its components and how they relate to natural formations, which can help you in reading more complex texts about geography.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 矸 with similar characters due to pronunciation. For example, incorrectly using 干 (gān) when they mean to refer to a rock or cliff. Always ensure you’re using the stone radical correctly to indicate that you are indeed talking about rocks.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 矸

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Etymology of 矸

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

rock

Semantic (meaning)石
+
Phonetic (sound)干
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

矸 = 石 + 干. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 矸

IDS Structure⿰石干
矸Full Character
=
石dan4
left
干gan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 矸?

How to say cliff; rock in Chinese

“cliff; rock” in Chinese is矸gān

The character 矸 (gān) refers to a cliff or a rock, often used in the context of natural landscapes. It emphasizes the ruggedness and sheer verticality of rocky formations, typically found in mountainous regions. This word is less commonly used in daily conversation but may appear in literary or descriptive contexts.

When to use 矸

When using 矸, be aware that it is more formal and may not be understood in casual conversation. It is often paired with words related to nature, like 山 (mountain) or 崖 (cliff). A common mistake is to confuse it with similar sounding characters that have different meanings, such as 干 (gān), which means 'to do' or 'dry.'

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 矸 with similar characters due to pronunciation. For example, incorrectly using 干 (gān) when they mean to refer to a rock or cliff. Always ensure you’re using the stone radical correctly to indicate that you are indeed talking about rocks.

Write 矸

矸

Practice writing 矸 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 矸

Words Containing This Character3
矸gāna rock or cliff
煤矸石waste rock (in coal mining)
矸石waste rock (mining)
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 矸

What does 煤矸石 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 矸

It is pronounced as 'gān', with a high and level tone.

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