笔杆

筆桿

bǐgǎn

noun

Meanings

1 shaft of a pen or writing brush
2 pen (as a tool for writing)

Characters

pen; writing brush

Examples

HSK 5

这支毛笔的笔杆是竹子做的。

Zhè zhī máobǐ de bǐgǎn shì zhúzi zuò de.

The shaft of this brush is made of bamboo.

HSK 7-9

他靠一支笔杆养活了全家。

Tā kào yì zhī bǐgǎn yǎnghuo le quánjiā.

He supported his whole family with nothing but his pen.

Tips

usage

杆 is read gǎn: the shaft of a tool. With 子 it becomes 笔杆子, the pen as a power, or a skilled writer, often paired with 枪杆子 'the gun'. 摇笔杆 means to write for a living.

Stroke Order

笔 bǐ

杆 gān