noun / verb HSK 5
kān
publication · periodical · to publish · to print

Meaning

refers to published materials, especially periodicals like magazines and journals. As a verb, it means to publish or print something in a publication. It commonly appears in compound words related to publishing and media.

Usage

is mostly used in formal or written contexts. It rarely stands alone in spoken Mandarin but is very common in compounds like 期 (periodical), 报 (newspapers and magazines), and 登 (to publish/carry an article). In modern usage, it's strongly associated with academic and professional publications.

Examples

  1. 01
    这篇论文已经在国际期登了。
    Zhè piān lùnwén yǐjīng zài guójì qīkān shàng kāndēng le.
    This paper has already been published in an international journal.
  2. 02
    我们公司每月出版一份内部物。
    Wǒmen gōngsī měi yuè chūbǎn fèn nèibù kānwù.
    Our company publishes an internal periodical every month.

Measure words

  • fèn一份期刊
  • běn一本月刊

Common collocations

  • kān dēng
    to publish (an article), to carry (in a publication)
  • yuè kān
    monthly publication
  • zhōu kān
    weekly publication
  • 学术
    xué shù kān
    academic journal

Origin

The character originally meant 'to carve' or 'to cut', as ancient texts were carved into wood or bamboo. This meaning evolved to 'publish' since early printing involved carving characters into blocks.

Related