干粮 (gān liáng) — dry provisions for a journey; field rations | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Dry, portable food carried for travel or outdoor use (hiking, desert trips, military). Distinct from a regular meal — it's food prepared to last without refrigeration.

noun

dry provisions for a journeyfield rations

Examples

干粮。
Tā men dài le hěn duō gān liáng qù pá shān.
They brought a lot of dry provisions to go hiking.
干粮。
Zhè zhǒng gān liáng kě yǐ bǎo cún hěn cháng shí jiān.
This kind of field rations can be stored for a long time.
，干粮。
Zài shā mò lǚ xíng shí, gān liáng bǐ shuǐ gèng zhòng yào.
When traveling in the desert, dry provisions are more important than water.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

干 gives dryness, and 粮 gives food, together meaning provisions that keep well on a journey.

Characters in this word

The simplified 干 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (饼干, 干杯) it is 乾; in others (干, 干活儿) (干扰) it is 幹 or 干.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 乾; 干 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

倝

倝gàn乾gān

Same sound today

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

米良粮

Meaning part形符xíngfú

米米mǐfood

Sound part声符shēngfú

良

良liáng粮liáng

Same sound today

粮 puts 米 (food) beside 良, which gives the sound liáng.

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