Meaning
管 is a versatile character meaning 'to manage' or 'to control' as a verb, and 'tube' or 'pipe' as a noun. When used with people, it often means to be in charge of someone or something, or to care about/mind something. The verb usage is extremely common in daily speech.
Usage
As a verb, 管 frequently appears in phrases like 管理 (to manage), 不管 (no matter/regardless), and 管用 (to be effective/useful). It's also used in the pattern 'X管Y' meaning 'X is in charge of Y' or 'X cares about Y'. Common in both formal management contexts and casual conversation about responsibility or concern.
Examples
- 01这件事你别管了。.Don't worry about this matter anymore.
- 02他管三十个员工。.He manages thirty employees.
Measure words
- 根一根管子
- 条一条管子
Common collocations
- 不管no matter, regardless of
- 管用effective, useful
- 管家housekeeper, butler
- 管子tube, pipe
Antonyms
Origin
The character combines bamboo 竹 (radical) on top with 官 guān (official) below, originally referring to bamboo pipes or tubes used by officials for administration, linking the meanings of 'tube' and 'to manage'.