管(かん)

かん

noun

pipe, tube

tool

1. pipe, tube, duct

A hollow cylinder used for conveying fluids, gases, or as a structural component.

水道(すいどう)管(かん)を修理(しゅうり)する。

To repair a water pipe.

古(ふる)い管(かん)から水(みず)が漏(も)れている。

Water is leaking from the old pipe.

下水(げすい)管(かん)が詰(つ)まった。

The sewer pipe got clogged.

管(かん) refers to a hollow cylindrical object — a pipe, tube, or duct. Used both as a standalone word and as a suffix in compounds.

Compounds

水道(すいどう)管(かん): water pipe
下水(げすい)管(かん): sewer pipe
排水(はいすい)管(かん): drainage pipe
鉄(てつ)管(かん): iron pipe
血(けっ)管(かん): blood vessel
気(き)管(かん): windpipe, trachea

CONTRAST WITH パイプ:
パイプ (from English 'pipe') is used more casually and can also refer to smoking pipes or connections/channels (パイプ役(やく) = go-between). 管(かん) is more technical and appears mainly in compound words.

Related kanji compounds

管理(かんり): management, control
管轄(かんかつ): jurisdiction
管楽器(かんがっき): wind instrument

Related Words

Related: 水道(すいどう) (water supply, plumbing)

Related: 血管(けっかん) (blood vessel)

Compare: パイプ (from English 'pipe')

Compare: ホース (hose (flexible tube for water, etc.))

general

Added 2026.2.3 18:58 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

09500/09749_kan