1.
pipe, tube
A hollow cylindrical object for conveying fluids or gases.
管 refers to any hollow cylindrical object used to convey liquids, gases, or other substances.
READINGS:
- くだ: native reading, used when standalone or in some wago compounds
- かん: on'yomi reading, used in most sino-Japanese compounds
COMMON COMPOUNDS (read as かん):
- 水道管: water pipe
- 排水管: drainage pipe
- 血管: blood vessel
- 気管: trachea, windpipe
- 管理: management (different meaning — uses same kanji)
IDIOM:
- 管を巻く: to grumble drunkenly, to ramble on while drunk
SIMILAR WORDS:
- パイプ: pipe (loanword, often for smoking pipes or industrial pipes)
- チューブ: tube (loanword, for flexible tubes)
- ホース: hose (loanword, for flexible water hoses)