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宦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
huàngovernment officialnr, 9 strokes, radical 宀, Very Hard
huànsurname Huanunknown, 9 strokes, radical 宀, Very Hard
huàncourt eunuchunknown, 9 strokes, radical 宀, Very Hard
huàn(Huan4) T4
  1. 1government official
  2. 2court eunuch
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March 24, 2026
huàn(Huan4)

The character 宦 (huàn) refers primarily to a government official, particularly one who held a position in the imperial court. It also denotes a court eunuch, a specific role within the historical Chinese bureaucracy often associated with power and influence. Additionally, 宦 can be a surname, Huan, in some contexts.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In ancient China, eunuchs like those referred to by 宦 held considerable power, often influencing the direction of politics and court affairs. Their unique status as castrated males allowed them to be trusted in close proximity to the royal family.

Memory Tip

Imagine a palace (宦) where a eunuch (huàn) serves as a crucial official, managing the affairs of the court. The roof (宦) symbolizes the elevated status of officials, while the inner room suggests the private duties of eunuchs, who were often trusted with sensitive responsibilities.

Meanings of 宦

huàn(Huan4)
1government official
2court eunuch
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 宦

Simplified
9Strokes
Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 宦

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AI Study Notes for 宦

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a palace (宦) where a eunuch (huàn) serves as a crucial official, managing the affairs of the court. The roof (宦) symbolizes the elevated status of officials, while the inner room suggests the private duties of eunuchs, who were often trusted with sensitive responsibilities.

Usage Notes

While 宦 is often used in historical contexts related to imperial China, modern usage may be less common. It's important to note that using this term in a contemporary setting may sound formal or archaic. Be cautious with tone; ensure the correct pronunciation to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Though 宦 is not included in HSK levels, it can connect to characters related to governance and officialdom, such as 官 (guān, official). Students should focus on understanding its historical significance and usage in literature or historical texts.

Cultural Note

In ancient China, eunuchs like those referred to by 宦 held considerable power, often influencing the direction of politics and court affairs. Their unique status as castrated males allowed them to be trusted in close proximity to the royal family.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 宦 (huàn) with 官 (guān), which also means official but does not imply the specific role of a eunuch. It's important to use the correct character based on the context to convey the intended meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 宦

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Etymology of 宦

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A minister 臣 in a statehouse 宀

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 宦?

Decomposition of 宦

IDS Structure⿱宀臣
Full Character
=
gai4
top
Chen2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 宦?

Write 宦

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 宦

宦 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

“ 我是十年____囊,尽付东流!

" Every penny of ten years'savings down the drain!

Example Sentences for 宦 (1)

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1
“ 我是十年宦囊,尽付东流!

“ “ wǒ shì shí nián huàn, náng , jìn fù!

" Every penny of ten years'savings down the drain!

Cultural Notes for 宦

🏮Cultural insight

In ancient China, eunuchs like those referred to by 宦 held considerable power, often influencing the direction of politics and court affairs. Their unique status as castrated males allowed them to be trusted in close proximity to the royal family.

Word Family of 宦

Words Containing This Character8
宦官court eunuch
官宦functionary
huàncourt eunuch
宦海officialdom
仕宦(literary) to serve as an official
显宦high official顯宦
宦门family of officials宦門
宦海风波lit. raging sea of bureaucracy宦海風波
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 宦官 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 宦

In modern usage, 宦 primarily refers to historical court eunuchs and is not commonly used to describe contemporary government officials.