干

• Pinyin: gàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 干 = simplified from 幹 (tree trunk, to do); here used for the 'to do' meaning

Meaning

To do; to work on. A casual, versatile verb for doing or working.

An informal alternative to 做 (to do). Used in casual speech to ask what someone is doing: 你在干什么？Also means to work or engage in a task. Slightly more colloquial than 做 and very common in spoken Chinese.

Examples

1. 你在干什么？ What are you doing?
2. 我们一起干吧！ Let's do it together!
3. 他每天干很多工作。 He does a lot of work every day.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, work

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 你在干嘛呢？(What are you up to?)
• 这件事我来干。(I'll handle this.)

Don't Say

• 我干学习。(Unnatural — say 我在学习; 干 is not used with 学习 as an object)

Origin & History

Originally written as 幹, meaning a tree trunk (the main stem that does the work of supporting the tree). Extended to mean 'to do' or 'capable.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal