官

The Chinese character 官 (guān) for "official" is composed of two parts: 宀 (mián) and 圭 (guī). 宀 represents a roof, symbolizing shelter and protection, while 圭 is a jade tablet used in ancient China as a symbol of authority and power. Together, these two components convey the idea of an official who resides in a government building and exercises authority.The earliest written form of 官 can be traced back to the oracle bone script, where it was depicted as a person standing under a roof. This pictographic representation evolved over time, becoming more stylized and simplified until it reached its current form.The semantic meaning of 官 has also undergone changes throughout history. In ancient China, 官 primarily referred to government officials and bureaucrats. However, its usage gradually expanded to include military officers, scholars, and even merchants who held official positions. Today, 官 is commonly used to refer to government officials and civil servants.In terms of pronunciation, 官 is pronounced as "guān" in Mandarin Chinese. The character has various pronunciations in different Chinese dialects, such as "gun" in Cantonese and "koan" in Hokkien.Overall, the character 官 encapsulates the concepts of authority, power, and governance, reflecting its historical and cultural significance in Chinese society.