官 means “government official”

かん · kan

Also: bureaucrat, the government, organ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

カン

Taught in grade 4 · 8 strokes

The story

A building (宀) housing authority: the official's residence. Japan's 官僚 (bureaucracy) is one of the most powerful in the world, guiding the nation through its elite ministries in Kasumigaseki. Behind every policy stands a 官.

Used in 官僚 (kanryou, bureaucrat) and 警官 (keikan, police officer)

More from Society & Government

• 軍 army
• 公 public
• 私 private
• 世 world
• 界 world
• 国 country
• 王 king
• 法 law
• 政 politics
• 民 people
• 族 tribe
• 都 capital

Learn 官 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.