栏杆

• Pinyin: lán gān
• Hanzi breakdown: 栏 = 木 (wood) + 阑 variant — railing; 杆 = 木 (wood) + 干 (dry) — pole

Meaning

Railing; banister; guardrail. A barrier made of posts and crossbars.

Found on balconies, bridges, staircases, and along walkways. Serves both safety and decorative purposes. Can be made of wood, metal, stone, or other materials.

Examples

1. 桥上的栏杆上挂满了同心锁。 The bridge railing is covered with love locks.
2. 小孩子不要攀爬栏杆，很危险。 Children should not climb the railing — it's very dangerous.
3. 阳台的栏杆锈迹斑斑，需要重新粉刷。 The balcony railing is covered in rust stains and needs repainting.

Usage Guide

Context: architecture, safety, public spaces

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 请扶好栏杆。(Please hold onto the railing.)
• 栏杆高度不够安全。(The railing height is not safe enough.)

Don't Say

• 把栏杆和围栏混淆。(栏杆 is railing with posts; 围栏 is an enclosing fence)

Origin & History

Compound of 栏 (railing) + 杆 (pole/rod). Describes the structure of vertical posts and horizontal bars.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal