pierce, 8 1/3lbs, penetrate, brace
貫 centers on passing through something from one side to the other: piercing, penetrating, or threading through. The historical weight unit (8 1/3 lbs) likely comes from the idea of a string of coins threaded together, and 'brace' extends the idea of something that holds by passing through.
貫 combines 毌 (a string or to pierce through) and 貝 (shell/money), originally depicting a string of coins threaded together. This gave the core meaning of piercing or passing through.
The top part 毌 looks like a string passing through a hole, and the bottom 貝 is a shell or coin. Picture threading a string through a pile of coins to pierce and hold them together.
For カン, imagine a can being pierced by a sharp string of coins: can -> カン, and the string penetrates the metal.
kan (obs. unit of weight, approx. 3.75 kg, 8.3 lb)
consistency; coherence; integration
to go through; to pierce; to penetrate
passing through (of a tunnel, bullet, etc.); going (right) through; penetrating; piercing
presence; dignity
charging (at the enemy) with a shout; rush
accomplishment; realization; attainment; fulfillment; achievement
win worth 8000 points (or, if dealer, 12000 points)
running through; traversal
to go through; to pierce; to penetrate
penetration; permeation
having nothing except one's body; having empty pockets; being penniless
pure straight; winning hand containing nine consecutive tiles of the same suit (i.e. 1-9) as three chows
consistently
continuous operation
consistency
integrated education; integrated school system; system where students can progress from elementary through secondary levels without entrance examinations
integrated set of schools that offers education from one stage to the next without taking entrance exams en route
combined school (e.g. junior high and high school)
integrated production; start-to-finish manufacturing