管(かん)

かん
noun
pipe, tube
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.

COMMON 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
general
Added 2026.2.3 18:58 · Revised 2026.3.31 12:49
09500/09749_kan