官

• Pinyin: guān
• Hanzi breakdown: 官 = 宀 (roof) + 㠯 (ancient form) — a person under a roof, symbolising an official in a government building

Meaning

Official; officer; a person holding a government or public position. Used both as a standalone word and as a component in many compound words.

Appears in numerous compounds: 官员 (official), 军官 (military officer), 法官 (judge), 器官 (organ). Can also refer to the concept of officialdom or bureaucracy. In modern Chinese, it is rarely used alone but is very productive as a word-forming element.

Examples

1. 他的父亲是一位军官，在部队工作了三十年。 His father is a military officer who worked in the army for thirty years.
2. 法官宣布了最终的判决结果。 The judge announced the final verdict.
3. 古代的官都要通过考试才能当上。 In ancient times, officials had to pass exams before they could serve.

Usage Guide

Context: government, law, military

Tone: formal

Do Say

• 她是一名外交官。(She is a diplomat.)
• 这位法官非常公正。(This judge is very fair.)

Don't Say

• 他是一个大官人 (Don't use 官人 in modern Chinese to mean 'official' — it sounds archaic; use 官员 instead)

Origin & History

An ancient character originally depicting a building (宀, roof) sheltering people, representing a government office and by extension the person who works there.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal