Meaning
官 primarily refers to a government official or public servant, someone who holds an official position in government or administration. It carries connotations of authority and bureaucracy. In compound words, it can also refer to bodily organs (like 五官 wǔguān, the five sense organs).
Usage
Commonly used in formal contexts when discussing government, politics, or administration. Often appears in compounds like 官员 (guānyuán, government official) or 当官 (dāng guān, to be an official). The term can carry neutral or sometimes negative connotations depending on context, especially when discussing corruption or bureaucracy.
Examples
- 01他父亲是一位高级官员。.His father is a high-ranking official.
- 02官方还没有发布正式声明。.The authorities have not yet released an official statement.
Measure words
- 位一位官员
- 个一个官
Common collocations
- 当官to be an official, to hold office
- 官员government official
- 官方official, governmental
- 五官the five sense organs (eyes, ears, nose, mouth, tongue)
Antonyms
Origin
The character 官 is a pictophonetic compound. The top part 宀 represents a roof or building, while 㠯 below serves as the phonetic component. The character originally depicted a government building or office, later extending to mean the officials who work there.