Core Meanings
The character 干 (gān) primarily means "to dry" when used as a verb, such as drying clothes or drying paint. It also functions as a colloquial verb meaning "to do" or "to work on" something, often used in casual conversation to ask about someone's activities (e.g., 你干什么？).
Interference Meaning
When combined with other characters, 干 can mean "to interfere" or "to meddle," as in 干涉 (gānshè), which means to interfere in someone else's affairs.
Common Collocations
- 干什么 (gàn shénme): "what to do" or "doing what" — used to ask about actions or intentions.
- 干涉 (gānshè): "to interfere" — used in contexts involving involvement in others' matters.
- 干燥 (gānzào): "dry" — describing dryness, often of objects or environments.
Usage Notes
干 as "to do" is informal and common in spoken Chinese. It is often used in questions about actions or tasks. The drying meaning is more literal and appears in everyday contexts like drying clothes or food. Avoid confusing 干 (gān) with 干 (gàn), which is a homophone but different character meaning "to do" in a more direct or forceful sense.
Character Variant
The variant 乹 is an old form of 干 but is rarely used in modern Chinese.