Chinese word

栏杆

Pronunciation

Pinyinlán gān

Meaning

  • nounhandrail

Example

上楼时，请抓住栏杆。shàng lóu shí qǐng zhuā zhù lán gān

Please hold the handrail when going upstairs.

Illustration for 栏杆 (handrail)

More examples

夜里她靠在栏杆上看月亮。yè lǐ tā kào zài lán gān shàng kàn yuè liàng

At night, she leaned against the handrail and looked at the moon.

Core concept

A low rail that marks an edge or division and gives the hand something firm to hold.

Common phrases

  • 抓住栏杆zhuā zhù lán gān

    hold the handrail

  • 靠在栏杆上kào zài lán gān shàng

    lean on the handrail

  • 阳台的栏杆yáng tái de lán gān

    balcony railing

Similar words

扶手fú shǒu: A hand support attached beside stairs or built into a chair.
护栏hù lán: A solid roadside or bridge barrier designed to stop people or objects from falling.
栅栏zhà lán: A fence placed around land or a garden to show where it ends.
围栏wéi lán: A surrounding fence used to control entry to and exit from an area for people or animals.

Definition in Chinese

由竿、横杆等构成的低矮围栏，可用于保护、分隔或作为扶手供人抓握。yóu gān héng gān děng gòu chéng de dī ǎi wéi lán kě yòng yú bǎo hù fēn gé huò zuò wéi fú shǒu gōng rén zhuā wò

Word origin

栏 (lán, "enclosure or railing") + 杆 (gān, "rod") forms a compound for a low structure made from bars.

Usage tips

  • English often chooses different nouns depending on whether the structure mainly blocks an edge or supports a hand, while Chinese commonly uses one everyday noun for both roles.

Related words

  • 栏杆儿lán gānrhandrailnoun

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