🇬🇧🇨🇳 shaft - 杆 : English Lesson

Meaning of "shaft" ("杆"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

A shaft is a long, straight pole or rod, usually made of wood or metal. People use shafts to hold things up or to make tools and sports equipment. For example, the long stick part of a broom, an arrow, or a golf club is called the shaft. You usually hold the shaft with your hands to swing, push, or carry something.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

I balanced a spinning plate on a long wooden shaft until gravity remembered it had a job to do.

I used the mop’s shaft as a microphone, and even the dog walked out on my concert.

I used the shovel’s shaft to measure my height and discovered I’m officially shorter than a gardening tool.

I waved the spear’s shaft around and instantly invented a new sport called ‘Run Before I Drop This.’

An arrow’s shaft has to be very straight for it to fly well—if my body were that straight, I’d finally be able to touch my toes.

At dusk, Sara sees a kitten on a low branch. She grabs a broom shaft from the shed. She slips the shaft under the kitten, steadies the shaft with both hands, and lifts. The kitten clings to the shaft, then hops down. Sara laughs and rests the warm shaft against the wall.

This word is featured in some playlists to help boost your English vocabulary! Check out where “shaft” (杆) makes an appearance and dive into themed playlists that make learning fun. 👍

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.