# Kan

/ˈkæn/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kan
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. historical ruler

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an older way of spelling 'khan', a title for a powerful ruler in some Asian countries.

For teachers: an archaic orthographic variant of 'khan', denoting a title for a sovereign or military ruler in Central Asian or Mongol contexts.

- The ancient scrolls referred to the great kan who ruled the vast plains.
- Historical manuscripts from the period often alternate between different transliterations when referring to the local kan and his administrative court.

Teaching tip: This spelling is rarely encountered outside of historical texts or specific academic translations of older literature.

### 2. Japanese unit of weight

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a Japanese measurement of weight equal to about 3.75 kilograms.

For teachers: a traditional Japanese unit of mass, standardised at approximately 3.75 kilograms or 8.267 pounds.

- The merchant measured the heavy iron bars in kan.
- Although the metric system is now standard, some traditional industries in Japan historically recorded bulk yields using the kan as a primary unit.

Usage: Often used in historical or traditional trade contexts within Japan.

### 3. Mahjong set

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a set of four identical tiles in the game of Mahjong.

For teachers: a specific meld in the game of Mahjong consisting of four identical tiles.

- She shouted 'kan' as she revealed her fourth matching tile to the other players.
- Declaring a kan allows a player to draw a replacement tile, though it also reveals a significant portion of their hand to opponents.

Usage: Can function as both the name of the set and the verbal call made during play.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialised term used exclusively by players of Mahjong, particularly the Japanese Riichi variant.

## Examples

- I kan my duty to the king.
- In the old manuscript, the knight claimed he did not kan the language of the travelers.
- The text was written in a dialect where the speaker would kan his craft better than any modern apprentice might understand their own.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.