How to Say
How to Write
kān
Radical: 戈 13 strokes
Meaning: kill
💡 Imagine a spear (戈) going 'kān!' to kill—extreme force.
Compounds

📚 Character Story & Explanation

戡 (kān) meaning in English —

Detective's note: 戡 (kān) is a weapon-wielding character. Its radical 戈 (spear) and phonetic 甚 (shèn, 'extreme') combine to mean 'suppress by force,' often translated as 'kill' in classical texts. Historically used in military contexts, like 戡乱 (suppressing rebellion). Not common in modern Chinese, it retains a fierce, archaic tone.

💬 Example Sentences

Common Compounds

Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up

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