缶

In a sentence

• 私は冷たい飲み物の缶を開けた。

  I opened a can of cold drink.

  Here, '缶' (kan) refers to a physical, metallic container typically used for beverages.

• この部屋には缶をリサイクルするための専用の箱がある。

  This room has a special box for recycling cans.

  In this sentence, '缶' (kan) is used more generally to refer to cans as items to be recycled.

• 彼は缶で作られた模型飛行機を展示した。

  He exhibited a model airplane made from cans.

  Here, '缶' (kan) indicates the material, i.e., cans, used in constructing the model airplane.