間
简 间 · 繁 間Meanings · gaan1
- dimension
- to layout or design
- classifier for shops, office or buildings
Meanings · gaan1
- between
- among
- within a definite time or space
- room
- classifier for rooms
- space
- a place or locality
- midpoint
Meanings · gaan3
- opening
- gap
- break
- section of a room or lateral space between two pairs of pillars
- to separate
- to alternate
- to partition
- to sow discord
- to drive a wedge
- space
- a duration of time
- to divide
- to mixed
- commingled
- occasionally
- sometimes
- by chance
- every now and then
Meanings · haan4
- an alternative form for 閒, idle
About these definitions
Source definition segments, in their original order. Characters a definition cites are shown without their Mandarin pinyin; classifier lists that CC-Canto copied from CC-CEDICT are marked Mandarin. The community dictionary is not independently verified by zimai.
Reading & tones
Schematic citation-tone diagrams from the source numbers. These are not recordings or predictions of connected speech.
Same syllable, six tones
Characters whose customary Unihan reading (kCantonese) is this syllable in each tone, chosen as in the tone atlas (2013 standard level, then the number of CC-CEDICT words they form), with CC-Canto 2017's meaning for that reading; a dash means no catalogue character has that reading. Checked syllables (-p, -t, -k) normally carry tones 1, 3 and 6. Character readings, not word readings; no frequency implied.
Written characters
Both source spellings are represented. Written membership is not an etymological or semantic claim.
Mandarin comparison · separate source entries
CC-CEDICT, the Mandarin–English dictionary, lists the same written form:
- 間 jiān CC-CEDICT · Mandarinbetween; among; within a definite time or space; room; section of a room or lateral space between two pairs of pillars; classifier for rooms
- 間 jiàn CC-CEDICT · Mandaringap; to separate; to thin out (seedlings); to sow discontent
A separate source entry, shown for comparison. The same characters can carry different senses in Mandarin and in Cantonese; zimai does not align these senses.
CC-Canto includes this pinyin reference: jian1. It does not establish a Mandarin word with the same meaning.
Look up this spelling in the Mandarin dictionary ↗Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 21 senses · 3 Cantonese readings
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
gaan1 · gaan3 · haan4
Cantonese word readings for 間. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack
Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
character
- within a definite time period or place
- among; between
- a moment; a little while; instant
- room; chamber
- section of a room; lateral space between two pairs of pillars
- Classifier for smallest units of housing, such as rooms and shopfronts.
- (chiefly Cantonese, Hokkien) Classifier for buildings in general, including schools, banks, cinemas, hospitals, shops, factories.
- a surname
character
- opening; gap; break
- estrangement; alienation; hostility
- spy; secret agent
- to keep away from; to keep apart
- to separate; to partition
- to alternate; to do something alternately
- to be mixed up with; to be intermingled
- to sow discord
- to blame; to reproach
- intermittently; sometimes
- in secret; clandestinely
character
- (obsolete) Variant pronunciation of the classifier sense.
- (obsolete) Used in place names.
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack