貫 meaning and stroke order
To pierce, to string up; a string of 1000 coins
How to write 貫, stroke by stroke
11 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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- 11
Meaning of 貫
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to pierce through
- to pass through
- to be stringed together
- string of 1000 cash
How 貫 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Money.
貝 gives the meaning and 毌 hints at the sound.
Radical: 貝 (sea shell), shared by 62 characters on this site.
How to remember 貫
The top part 毌 (guàn) looks like something pierced straight through the middle, and it also gives the sound. Below it sits 貝 (bèi), a shell used as old money, so picture shells or coins threaded on a cord: a string of cash.
貫 is the traditional form; in simplified Chinese it is written 贯. Today it rarely means coins and mostly appears in words about running through or staying consistent, like 贯穿, 贯彻 and 一贯. Example: 他学习时全神贯注。(Tā xuéxí shí quánshénguànzhù.) He concentrates completely when he studies.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 贯 (guàn) with 惯 (guàn, habit), as in 习惯 (xíguàn). 惯 has the heart radical 忄 because it is about habits of mind, while 贯 is about passing through. They sound identical, so check the left side.
Common words with 貫
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 一貫 | yīguàn | consistent; constant | HSK 6 |
| 貫穿 | guànchuān | to run through; a connecting thread from beginning to end | HSK 7-9 |
| 貫徹 | guànchè | to implement; to put into practice | HSK 7-9 |
| 貫通 | guàntōng | to link up; to thread together | HSK 7-9 |
| 全神貫注 | quánshénguànzhù | (idiom) to concentrate one's attention completely; with rapt attention |
Characters that contain 貫
Learning 貫 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 貫
How many strokes are in 貫?
貫 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 貫 mean?
貫 (guàn) means to pierce, to string up; a string of 1000 coins. A common word with it is 一贯 (yīguàn), meaning "consistent; constant".
How do you pronounce 貫?
貫 is pronounced guàn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 貫?
The radical of 貫 is 貝, which carries the idea of "sea shell". Dictionaries list 貫 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 貫?
貫 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 贯, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 贯彻 and 贯穿?
贯彻 (guànchè) means to carry out a policy, idea or plan thoroughly. 贯穿 (guànchuān) means something runs through from start to finish, like a theme running through a book.
Why does 籍贯 mean someone's native place?
In 籍贯 (jíguàn), 贯 carries an old sense of one's home district, a line tracing back to where one is registered. The word is common on forms and means ancestral or native place.