Meaning & readings
bureaucrat, the government, organ
On’yomi カン
Origin
This character most likely combines two simple pictographic elements: a roof or container shape on top, with vertical lines below representing something enclosed or organized. The image suggests an enclosed space or building, which led to meanings related to official structures and government offices. Over time, the character extended from the physical building where officials worked to mean the officials themselves and the government as a whole.
Components
This character is treated as a single, undivided shape (官).
Common words
- 官界 かんかい bureaucratic world; government circles
- 官憲 かんけん officials; authorities
- 官庁 かんちょう government office; government agency
- 官邸 かんてい official residence (e.g. of the prime minister)
- 官報 かんぽう official daily gazette; government newsletter
- 官房 かんぼう government secretariat
- 官吏 かんり government official; public servant
- 官僚 かんりょう bureaucrat; government official
Easily confused with
These look alike but are unrelated in meaning — check the stroke that differs.
Reference
- Strokes
- 8
- Kangxi radical
- 40
- Formation type
- Pictographic or simple
- Grade
- Grade 4 (Kyōiku)
- Frequency rank
- #230 (newspapers)
- Former JLPT
- level 2
- Unicode
- U+05B98