貫

See also: 貴 and 贯

貫	U+8CAB, 貫 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8CAB

← 貪
[U+8CAA]

CJK Unified Ideographs

責 →
[U+8CAC]

貫	U+2F9D4, 貫 CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-2F9D4

← 𧲨
[U+2F9D3]

CJK Compatibility Ideographs Supplement

賁 →
[U+2F9D5]

Translingual

Han character

Stroke order

貫 (Kangxi radical 154, 貝+4, 11 strokes, cangjie input 田十月山金 (WJBUC), four-corner 7780₆, composition ⿱毌貝 or ⿱母貝(U+2F9D4))

Derived characters

Descendants

贯

References

Kangxi Dictionary: page 1205, character 17
Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 36681
Dae Jaweon: page 1668, character 1
Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 6, page 3628, character 15
Unihan data for U+8CAB

Unihan data for U+2F9D4

Chinese

trad.		貫
simp.		贯

Glyph origin

Characters in the same phonetic series (毌) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
毌	koːn, koːns
貫	koːn, koːns
樌	*koːns
鏆	*koːns
遦	*koːns
慣	*kroːns
摜	*kroːns
瑻	*kuːn
謴	*kuːns

Phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声, OC *koːn, *koːns): phonetic 毌 (OC *koːn, *koːns) + semantic 貝 – 毌 may also represent string of coins.

Etymology

to go through, to pierce: Cognate with 窾 (OC *kʰloːnʔ); see there for further etymology; Cognate with Burmese ခွင်း (hkwang:, “to pierce through”).

Pronunciation 1

Mandarin
(Pinyin): guàn (guan⁴)

(Zhuyin): ㄍㄨㄢˋ
Cantonese (Jyutping): gun³
Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): guang⁴ / guong⁴
Southern Min
(Hokkien, POJ): kǹg / kùiⁿ / koàn

(Teochew, Peng'im): guang³ / guêng³
Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ⁵kue

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: guàn
  - Zhuyin: ㄍㄨㄢˋ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: guàn
  - Wade–Giles: kuan⁴
  - Yale: gwàn
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: guann
  - Palladius: гуань (guanʹ)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ku̯än⁵¹/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
  - Jyutping: gun³
  - Yale: gun
  - Cantonese Pinyin: gun³
  - Guangdong Romanization: gun³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /kuːn³³/
Puxian Min
- (Putian)
  - Pouseng Ping'ing: guang⁴
  - Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: gua̍ng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /kuaŋ⁴²/
- (Xianyou)
  - Pouseng Ping'ing: guong⁴
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /kuoŋ⁴²/
Southern Min
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou, General Taiwanese, Xiamen)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kǹg
  - Tâi-lô: kǹg
  - Phofsit Daibuun: kngx
  - IPA (Taipei): /kŋ̍¹¹/
  - IPA (Kaohsiung, Xiamen): /kŋ̍²¹/
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /kŋ̍⁴¹/
- (Hokkien: Zhangzhou)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kùiⁿ
  - Tâi-lô: kuìnn
  - Phofsit Daibuun: kvuix
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /kuĩ²¹/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: koàn
  - Tâi-lô: kuàn
  - Phofsit Daibuun: koaxn
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Kaohsiung): /kuan²¹/
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /kuan⁴¹/
  - IPA (Taipei): /kuan¹¹/

Note:

kǹg/kùiⁿ - vernacular;
koàn - literary.

(Teochew)
- Peng'im: guang³ / guêng³
- Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: kuàng / kuèng
- Sinological IPA ^(key): /kuaŋ²¹³/, /kueŋ²¹³/

Note:

guang3 - Shantou;
guêng3 - Chaozhou.

Wu
- (Northern: Shanghai)
  - Wugniu: ⁵kue
  - MiniDict: kue^去
  - Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ²kue
  - Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /kue³⁴/

Middle Chinese: kwan, kwanH

Rime
Character	貫	貫
Reading #	1/2	2/2
Initial (聲)	見 (28)	見 (28)
Final (韻)	桓 (62)	桓 (62)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Closed	Closed
Division (等)	I	I
Fanqie	古丸切	古玩切
Baxter	kwan	kwanH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/kuɑn/	/kuɑn^H/
Pan Wuyun	/kʷɑn/	/kʷɑn^H/
Shao Rongfen	/kuɑn/	/kuɑn^H/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/kwan/	/kwan^H/
Li Rong	/kuɑn/	/kuɑn^H/
Wang Li	/kuɑn/	/kuɑn^H/
Bernhard Karlgren	/kuɑn/	/kuɑn^H/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	guān	guàn
Expected Cantonese Reflex	gun¹	gun³

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*kˤo[n]/, /*kˤon-s/

(Zhengzhang): /*koːn/, /*koːns/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	貫	貫
Reading #	1/2	2/2
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	guàn	guàn
Middle Chinese	‹ kwan ›	‹ kwan^H ›
Old Chinese	/*kˁo[n]/	/*kˁon-s/
English	pass through the center	pass through the center
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	貫	貫
Reading #	1/2	2/2
No.	4465	4466
Phonetic component	毌	毌
Rime group	元	元
Rime subdivision	3	3
Corresponding MC rime	官	貫
Old Chinese	/*koːn/	/*koːns/

Definitions

貫

a string of one thousand coins
- 楊志道：「祖上留下寶刀，要賣三千貫。」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
  杨志道：「祖上留下宝刀，要卖三千贯。」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
  From: Shi Nai'an, Water Margin, circa 14^th century CE
  Yáng Zhì dào: “Zǔshàngliúxià bǎodāo, yào mài sānqiān guàn.” [Pinyin]
  Yang Zhi said: "This is a precious sword left by my ancestors; I will sell it for three thousand strings of cash."
to go through; to pierce
- 自始合，而矢貫余手及肘，余折以御，左輪朱殷，豈敢言病？ [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
  自始合，而矢贯余手及肘，余折以御，左轮朱殷，岂敢言病？ [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]
  From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE, translation from Zuozhuan: Commentary on the "Spring and Autumn Annals" (2017), by Stephen Durrant, Wai-yee Li and David Schaberg
  Zì shǐ hé, ér shǐ guàn yú shǒu jí zhǒu, yú zhé yǐ yù, zuǒlún zhūyān, qǐ gǎn yán bìng? [Pinyin]
  From the moment the troops clashed, arrows pierced my arm and elbow. I broke them off so as to drive the chariot. The left wheel has turned dark red with blood. Did I dare to speak of my wounds?
- 子曰：「參乎！吾道一以貫之。」曾子曰：「唯。」子出。門人問曰：「何謂也？」曾子曰：「夫子之道，忠恕而已矣。」 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
  子曰：「参乎！吾道一以贯之。」曾子曰：「唯。」子出。门人问曰：「何谓也？」曾子曰：「夫子之道，忠恕而已矣。」 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]
  From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE
  Zǐyuē: “Shēn hū! Wúdào yī yǐ guàn zhī.” Zēngzǐ yuē: “Wéi.” Zǐ chū. Ménrén wèn yuē: “Héwèi yě?” Zēngzǐ yuē: “Fūzǐ zhī dào, zhōngshù éryǐ yǐ.” [Pinyin]
  The Master said, “Shen, a single thread runs through my doctrine.” Master Zeng said, “Yes.” The Master went out, and the other disciples asked, “What did he mean?” Master Zeng said, “The Master’s doctrine is nothing other than loyalty and empathy.”
one's native place
- 他岳丈名喚封肅，本貫大如州人氏。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
  他岳丈名唤封肃，本贯大如州人氏。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]
  From: Cao Xueqin, Dream of the Red Chamber, mid-18^th century CE
  Tā yuèzhàng míng huàn Fēng Sù, běnguàn Dàrúzhōu rénshì. [Pinyin]
  His father-in-law was a man named Feng Su, whose native place was Daruzhou.

Compounds

References

(Min Nan) “貫”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2025.

Pronunciation 2

Mandarin
(Pinyin): guàn (guan⁴)

(Zhuyin): ㄍㄨㄢˋ
Cantonese (Jyutping): gwaan³

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: guàn
  - Zhuyin: ㄍㄨㄢˋ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: guàn
  - Wade–Giles: kuan⁴
  - Yale: gwàn
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: guann
  - Palladius: гуань (guanʹ)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ku̯än⁵¹/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
  - Jyutping: gwaan³
  - Yale: gwaan
  - Cantonese Pinyin: gwaan³
  - Guangdong Romanization: guan³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /kʷaːn³³/

Definitions

貫

alternative form of 慣 / 惯 (guàn, “to be accustomed to; to be used to”)
- 譬如田獵，射御貫，則能獲禽，若未嘗登車射御，則敗績厭覆是懼，何暇思獲？ [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
  譬如田猎，射御贯，则能获禽，若未尝登车射御，则败绩厌覆是惧，何暇思获？ [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]
  From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE
  Pìrú tiánliè, shè yù guàn, zé néng huò qín, ruò wèi cháng dēng chē shè yù, zé bài jì yàn fù shì jù, hé xiá sī huò? [Pinyin]
  Take an example for hunting: if a man is accustomed to shooting and driving, he will then be able to capture birds and animals. But if he has never climbed a carriage to shoot and drive, then the fear of being defeated in his purpose and of being crushed by his overturning carriage will overpower him. How can he spare any time or attention to think of capturing anything?
- 我不貫與小人乘，請辭。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
  我不贯与小人乘，请辞。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]
  From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Wǒ bùguàn yǔ xiǎorén chéng, qǐng cí. [Pinyin]
  I am not accustomed to drive for a mean man. I beg leave to decline the office.

Compounds

Pronunciation 3

Mandarin
(Pinyin): wān (wan¹)

(Zhuyin): ㄨㄢ
Cantonese (Jyutping): waan¹

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: wān
  - Zhuyin: ㄨㄢ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: wan
  - Wade–Giles: wan¹
  - Yale: wān
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: uan
  - Palladius: вань (vanʹ)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /wän⁵⁵/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
  - Jyutping: waan¹
  - Yale: wāan
  - Cantonese Pinyin: waan¹
  - Guangdong Romanization: wan¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /waːn⁵⁵/

Definitions

貫

(obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) alternative form of 彎 / 弯 (wān, “to draw a bow”)

Compounds

貫弓 / 贯弓

References

“貫”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[1], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
莆田市荔城区档案馆 [Putian City Licheng District Archives], editor (2022), “贯”, in 莆仙方言文读字汇 [Puxian Dialect Literary Reading Dictionary] (overall work in Mandarin and Puxian Min), page 81.

Japanese

Kanji

貫

(Jōyō kanji)

pierce
approximately 3.75 kg (8.33 pounds) (weight)
penetrate
brace

Readings

Go-on: かん (kan, Jōyō)^{←くわん (kwan, historical)}
Kan-on: かん (kan, Jōyō)^{←くわん (kwan, historical)}
On: わん (wan)
Kun: つらぬく (tsuranuku, 貫く, Jōyō)、ぬき (nuki, 貫)、ぬく (nuku, 貫く)、ひく (hiku, 貫く)
Nanori: つら (tsura)、つらぬき (tsuranuki)、とおる (tōru)、ぬき (nuki)、やす (yasu)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
貫
かん Grade: S
on'yomi

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) かん [káꜜǹ] (Atamadaka – [1])
IPA^(key): [kã̠ɴ]

Counter

貫(かん) • (-kan) ^{←くわん (-kwan)^?}

pieces of sushi

Noun

貫(かん) • (kan) ^{←くわん (kwan)^?}

(obsolete) unit of measure of weight corresponding to 3.75 kilograms
(obsolete) unit of currency

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
貫
つらぬ(き) Grade: S
kun'yomi

Noun

貫(つらぬき) • (tsuranuki)

(footwear) tied leather shoes worn with armour

Korean

Hanja

貫 (eumhun 꿸 관 (kkwel gwan))

hanja form^? of 관 (“thread, string”)

Vietnamese

Han character

貫: Hán Việt readings: quan
貫: Nôm readings: quán, quen

Noun

貫

chữ Hán form of quan (“(historical) a string of six hundred coins.”)