贯 guàn to pierce
to pierce; to string up
How it came to be
A cord drawn straight through the middle of two discs, standing over a sea shell. Shells were money and money was carried on a string; the string is what goes through.
How it is used
- Core image: to thread through from end to end. 贯穿 (guànchuān) to run through (贯穿全文 runs through the whole text), 贯通 (guàntōng) to link up/master thoroughly.
- 贯彻 (guànchè) to carry out fully - 贯彻政策 (guànchè zhèngcè) to implement a policy to the end.
- 一贯 (yíguàn) means consistently, all-along - 他一贯认真 (tā yíguàn rènzhēn) he has always been diligent.