Chinese word

罐

Pronunciation

Pinyinguàn

Meaning

  • measure wordcan

Example

我喝了一罐可乐。wǒ hē le yí guàn kě lè

I drank a can of cola.

Illustration for 罐 (can)

More examples

他为了修补墙面，买了一罐油漆。tā wèi le xiū bǔ qiáng miàn mǎi le yí guàn yóu qī

He bought a can of paint to repair the wall.

Core concept

A sealed container that holds its contents as one counted unit.

Common phrases

  • 一罐可乐yí guàn kě lè

    a can of cola

  • 三罐啤酒sān guàn pí jiǔ

    three cans of beer

  • 一罐油漆yí guàn yóu qī

    a can of paint

Similar words

听tīng: Counts a metal can containing a drink or food.
瓶píng: Counts a bottle of liquid made of glass or plastic.

Definition in Chinese

作名词指罐状的容器，用于盛放和保存物品；作量词时表示一只罐装的物品，如“我喝了一罐可乐”。zuò míng cí zhǐ guàn zhuàng de róng qì yòng yú shèng fàng hé bǎo cún wù pǐn zuò liàng cí shí biǎo shì yì zhī guàn zhuāng de wù pǐn rú wǒ hē le yí guàn kě lè

Word origin

The character 罐 (guàn, "can") combines 缶 (fǒu, "earthen vessel") + 雚 (guàn, "phonetic component"), linking its form to a container.

Usage tips

  • In English, can often expresses ability or permission, so its container meaning may not come to mind immediately; the Chinese word does not carry those abstract uses.

Related words

  • 罐头guàn toucanned foodnoun
  • 铁罐tiě guàntin cannoun
  • 罐装guàn zhuāngcanverb

Word lists with this word