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March 24, 2026
官guān(guan1)
The character 官 (guān) primarily refers to an official or a public servant in a governmental context. It can also denote a government-related organization or institution, as well as being used in some medical contexts to refer to organs of the body. This word is common in discussions about politics, administration, and public service.
Strokes8Radical宀Frequency#1551DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In China, the concept of 官 is deeply rooted in Confucian values, where officials are expected to act as moral exemplars for the society. The examination system for selecting officials has historical significance, emphasizing meritocracy.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'guan' (官) sitting at a large desk, wearing a formal robe, and surrounded by government documents. The character 官 resembles a roof over a person, symbolizing authority and governance, and the sound 'guān' can be remembered as similar to the word 'gone', as in 'all governance is gone without officials.'
Meanings of 官
guān(guan1)
1official
2government
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About 官
官Simplified
8Strokes
宀Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1551Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 官
Podcast: 官
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AI Study Notes for 官
Quick Contrast
官 (official) vs 职员 (staff) — use 官 when referring specifically to government officials, while 职员 refers more broadly to employees in any organization.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 官; it has a high level tone (first tone). This word is often used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations unless discussing government matters. Common collocations include 官员 (guān yuán - official) and 政府官员 (zhèng fǔ guān yuán - government official).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 官 connects with other words related to governance and public service, such as 政治 (zhèng zhì - politics) and 政府 (zhèng fǔ - government). Students should focus on using 官 in context by forming phrases that discuss roles within government or administration.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 官 with 关 (guān), which means 'to close' or 'to relate to'. For example, saying '我是一位关' instead of '我是一位官' is incorrect; the correct phrase should be '我是一位官' (I am an official).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 官
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How Well Do You Know 官?
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Knowing 官 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 官 (guān) primarily refers to an official or a public servant in a governmental context. It can also denote a government-related organization or institution, as well as being used in some medical contexts to refer to organs of the body. This word is common in discussions about politics, administration, and public service.
When to use 官
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 官; it has a high level tone (first tone). This word is often used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations unless discussing government matters. Common collocations include 官员 (guān yuán - official) and 政府官员 (zhèng fǔ guān yuán - government official).
官 or something close to it
官 (official) vs 职员 (staff) — use 官 when referring specifically to government officials, while 职员 refers more broadly to employees in any organization.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 官 with 关 (guān), which means 'to close' or 'to relate to'. For example, saying '我是一位关' instead of '我是一位官' is incorrect; the correct phrase should be '我是一位官' (I am an official).
Write 官
官
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Grammar Patterns of 官
官 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 8 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.
Professor Guan has made significant contributions to the study of Chinese history.
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Word Family of 官
Compounds19
管guan3variant of 管[guǎn]
馆guan3variant of 館
棺guan1coffin
倌guan1assistant, hired hand
菅jian1coarse grass; Themedia forskali
涫guan4to boil
琯
痯
绾wan3to string together, to bind up
逭huan4to flee, to escape, to avoid
婠
悹
悺
捾
綰
舘
輨
錧
館guan3public building; shop, house, establishment
Words Containing This Character20
长官senior official長官
官员guānyuánadministrator官員
法官fǎguānjudge
官guānofficial
警官jǐngguānconstable
官方guānfānggovernment
检察官public prosecutor檢察官
器官qìguānapparatus
官兵guānbīngofficers and men
军官jūnguānofficer (military)軍官
官司guānsilawsuit
指挥官commander指揮官
高官high official
贪官corrupt official貪官
打官司dǎguānsito sue
外交官wàijiāoguāndiplomat
官僚guānliáobureaucrat
教官military instructor
士官warrant officer
感官sense
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 官
What does 棺 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 官
Common phrases include '官员' (guānyuán) meaning 'official' and '官僚' (guānliáo) meaning 'bureaucrat.' These phrases are often used in discussions about government and administration.
官 refers to an official or government worker, while 司 (sī) typically relates to departments or offices. For example, 司 is used in terms like '公司' (gōngsī) meaning 'company.' Understanding this distinction can help clarify discussions about roles in governance versus business.
官 (guān) generally refers to an official or government worker. It can also denote anything related to public affairs or government. Additionally, it is a common surname in China.
You can use 官 in sentences related to government or public service. For example, '他是一名政府官员' (Tā shì yī míng zhèngfǔ guānyuán) means 'He is a government official.' This character can help you discuss topics related to politics or societal roles.
In a medical context, 官 can refer to organs of the body, emphasizing its broader meaning beyond just government officials.
While 官 primarily refers to officials, it can also pertain to organizations or institutions related to the government.
You can use 官 in phrases like '政府官员' (zhèng fǔ guān yuán) to mean 'government official'.
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