幹

Phono-semantic compound:

木 (나무 목, “tree”) — semantic component, denoting trunk/wood.

倝 (아침해빛날 간, “sunrise”) — phonetic component.

In clerical script, 木 was graphically reduced to 干, giving the modern form.

Thus originally “the trunk of a tree,” later extended metaphorically to “main part, essence” and “to manage/undertake.”

幹部 (간부) — cadre, executive staff

幹線 (간선) — main line, trunk line

幹事 (간사) — secretary, manager

幹活 (간활) — to work, to do a job

主幹 (주간) — main stem, key figure

In Korean, read 간, meaning “stem, trunk” and by extension “main, core.”

In Japanese, read kan in compounds with the same meanings.

In Mandarin, gàn (fourth tone) - “to do, manage”; gān (first tone) is less common.

In Taiwan/Minnan, pronunciation overlaps with 姦 (간음할 간) (adultery), giving rise to the vulgar slang meaning.

Also used in generational name characters, associated with the wood element (木) in the Five Phases (五行).