机关

• Pinyin: jī guān
• Hanzi breakdown: 机 = 木 (wood) + 几, machine/mechanism; 关 = gate/barrier

Meaning

Government agency or office; also means mechanism or trap.

Most commonly refers to government departments and administrative offices. Can also mean a mechanical device or trigger mechanism, and by extension, a scheme or trap. The context usually makes the meaning clear.

Examples

1. 他在国家机关工作了二十多年，积累了丰富的行政经验。 He worked in a government agency for over twenty years and accumulated rich administrative experience.
2. 这个古墓里设有各种机关，考古队必须小心翼翼地前进。 This ancient tomb has various mechanisms inside; the archaeological team must proceed very carefully.
3. 基层机关的工作人员经常需要加班处理群众的各种诉求。 Staff at grassroots government offices often need to work overtime to handle various public requests.

Usage Guide

Context: government, workplace, historical

Tone: official

Do Say

• 她考上了中央机关的公务员。(She passed the exam for a civil servant position in a central government agency.)
• 小说里的密室充满了机关。(The secret room in the novel is full of traps.)

Don't Say

• 称普通公司为机关 (Don't call a regular company 机关 — that's specifically for government bodies)

Origin & History

Compound of 机 (machine/mechanism) + 关 (gate/barrier). Originally referred to mechanical locks or triggers, later extended to government offices.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal