Learn a Chinese Character - 官

1. Character Basics

Radical: 宀/mián (roof), 官/guān (official)

Stroke Count: 8

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Guān (First tone)

3. Meaning

Basic Meaning: Official; government official; public servant; officer; official post; position; rank; authority; functionary; bureaucracy.

Extended Meaning: To manage; to govern; to direct; to control; to take charge of; to be in charge of; to rule; to administer; to supervise; to regulate; official business; public affairs.

4. Common Words

• 官员 (guān yuán) - Official, government official

  Example: 这位官员很受人民的尊敬。 (This official is highly respected by the people.)

• 军官 (jūn guān) - Military officer

  Example: 他是一名优秀的军官。 (He is an excellent military officer.)

• 官方 (guān fāng) - Official, governmental

  Example: 这是官方的声明。 (This is an official statement.)

• 官府 (guān fǔ) - Government office, authorities

  Example: 百姓到官府告状。 (People go to the government office to file a complaint.)

• 五官 (wǔ guān) - Five sense organs (eyes, ears, nose, mouth, tongue)

  Example: 他的五官很端正。 (He has regular features.)

5. Grammar & Usage

As a noun (官 guān):

• 官 + Position: A specific official position

  Example: 官员 (official), 法官 (judge), 武官 (military officer)

• Adj + 官: Describing the nature of an official

  Example: 清官 (honest official), 贪官 (corrupt official)

• 官 + Noun: Related to official matters

  Example: 官场 (official circles), 官职 (official position)

Common structures:

• 当官 (dāng guān) - To be an official, to hold office
• 升官 (shēng guān) - To be promoted to a higher official position
• 罢官 (bà guān) - To remove from office, to dismiss
• 官官相护 (guān guān xiāng hù) - Officials protect each other (idiom)

6. Cultural Background

The character "官" (guān) has a long history in Chinese culture, closely tied to the country's bureaucratic system. In ancient China, the imperial examination system (科举制度) was established to select officials based on merit rather than family background, which was a progressive system for its time.

Confucianism had a profound influence on the concept of "官" in China. Confucius emphasized that officials should be virtuous and act in the best interest of the people, not just seek personal gain. This idea is still reflected in Chinese political culture today.

In traditional Chinese society, officials were highly respected and occupied a top position in the social hierarchy. This respect for authority is still evident in Chinese culture, although the nature of governance has changed significantly over time.

The character "官" is also used in many idioms that reflect attitudes towards bureaucracy and governance, such as "官官相护" (guān guān xiāng hù) - officials protect each other, and "清官难断家务事" (qīng guān nán duàn jiā wù shì) - even an honest official finds it hard to judge family affairs.

Today, while the concept of "官" has evolved, the importance of public service and good governance remains a central theme in Chinese society.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

1. Component Breakdown:

The character "官" (guān) is composed of two parts: "宀" (mián - roof) and a unique component representing an official. You can think of it as "someone working under a roof" - like an official working in a government building.

2. Phonetic Association:

The pinyin "guān" sounds similar to the English word "guan" (as in "guano"). You could imagine a bird sitting on top of a government building to remember the pronunciation.

3. Visual Image:

Picture a traditional Chinese official wearing a hat and sitting behind a desk. This helps connect the character's meaning with its form.

4. Practice with Common Words:

Write sentences using words like "官员" (guān yuán - official), "官方" (guān fāng - official), and "军官" (jūn guān - military officer). Repetition will help solidify your memory of the character.