管 meaning and stroke order
To take care (of); to control; to manage
How to write 管, stroke by stroke
14 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 管
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to take care (of)
- to control
- to manage
- to be in charge of
- to look after
- to run
How 管 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Bamboo.
⺮ gives the meaning and 官 hints at the sound.
Radical: ⺮ (bamboo), shared by 149 characters on this site.
How to remember 管
管 is a pictophonetic character: the bamboo top ⺮ gives the meaning, since bamboo stems are hollow tubes, and 官 (guān, official) gives the sound. Picture an official 官 holding a bamboo tube, which helps you remember both the pipe and the managing.
管 means a tube or pipe in words like 吸管 (xīguǎn, straw) and 血管 (xuèguǎn, blood vessel). As a verb it means to manage or to be in charge of something, as in 管理 (guǎnlǐ). Example: 这件事你别管。(Zhè jiàn shì nǐ bié guǎn.) Don't get involved in this matter.
Common mistake: Learners often write the top as 艹 instead of the bamboo radical ⺮, or say it with first tone like 官 (guān). Remember that 管 is third tone, guǎn.
Common words with 管
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 管理 | guǎnlǐ | to supervise; to manage | HSK 3 |
| 不管 | bùguǎn | not to be concerned; regardless of | HSK 4 |
| 吸管 | xīguǎn | (drinking) straw; pipette | HSK 4 |
| 尽管 | jǐnguǎn | despite; although | HSK 5 |
| 主管 | zhǔguǎn | in charge; responsible for | HSK 5 |
| 只管 | zhǐguǎn | solely engrossed in one thing; just (one thing, no need to worry about the rest) | HSK 6 |
| 管道 | guǎndào | tubing; pipeline | HSK 6 |
| 血管 | xuèguǎn | vein; artery | HSK 6 |
| 看管 | kānguǎn | to look after | HSK 6 |
| 保管 | bǎoguǎn | to hold in safekeeping; to have in one's care; to guarantee | HSK 7-9 |
| 管用 | guǎnyòng | efficacious; useful | HSK 7-9 |
| 水管 | shuǐguǎn | water pipe | HSK 7-9 |
| 管家 | guǎnjiā | (old) butler; steward; manager; administrator; housekeeper | HSK 7-9 |
| 掌管 | zhǎngguǎn | in charge of; to control | HSK 7-9 |
管 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 管
How many strokes are in 管?
管 is written with 14 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 管 mean?
管 (guǎn) means to take care (of); to control; to manage. A common word with it is 管理 (guǎnlǐ), meaning "to supervise; to manage".
How do you pronounce 管?
管 is pronounced guǎn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 管?
The radical of 管 is ⺮, which carries the idea of "bamboo". Dictionaries list 管 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 管?
The traditional form of 管 is 筦. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 管 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 管 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 管 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 不管 and 尽管?
不管 (bùguǎn) means no matter or regardless, as in 不管多忙 (no matter how busy). 尽管 (jǐnguǎn) means although or despite and introduces a real fact, as in 尽管很忙 (although I am busy).
What does 管 mean in 你管得着吗?
Here 管 means to interfere or concern oneself with something. 你管得着吗 (nǐ guǎn de zháo ma) is a blunt way to say it is none of your business.