• 幹線かんせん — main line / highway
• 幹部かんぶ — executive staff / management
• 根幹こんかん — foundation / backbone
• 新幹線しんかんせん — Shinkansen (bullet train)
• 幹みき — tree trunk

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幹 combines 干 (base) with structural components, originally meaning upright beams in buildings — the “spine” or trunk. It later extended to main lines, executive positions, or foundational elements in organizations and systems.

木きの 幹みきは とても 太ふとい。
The tree’s trunk is very thick.

彼かれは 会社かいしゃの 幹部かんぶです。
He is an executive at the company.