Definition
管 (guǎn) as a verb means 'to manage, be in charge of' — it's a general word, less formal than 掌管 (zhǎng guǎn) and broader than 负责 (fù zé) (responsibility for a specific task). In negative statements, 管 means 'to bother about' (e.g., 不管), contrasting with 计较 (jì jiào) (fuss over details). As a classifier, 管 is for tube-shaped objects, not for sections (use 截).
verb
to manageto be in charge ofto take care ofto care aboutto bother about (often in negative statements)
classifier
for tube-shaped objects (toothpaste, pens, etc.)
Easily confused
- 算suànlook-aliketo calculate, compute; to figure (out)
- 关guānsound-alike(verb) to close, to shut, to turn off
- 第dìlook-alike(prefix) used before a number to form ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.)
- 官guānsound-alikegovernment official
- 罐guànsound-alikecan, jar, pot (container)
- 灌guànsound-aliketo pour (a liquid) into; to irrigate
- 惯guànsound-aliketo be used to; to be accustomed to (often 惯了 as a resultative complement)
Examples
- 管。Tā guǎn yì jiā xiǎo gōngsī.He manages a small company.
- 管。Wǒ mǎi le liǎng guǎn yágāo.I bought two tubes of toothpaste.
- 管。Méi rén guǎn zhè jiàn shì.Nobody cares about this matter.
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