About
The character 倌 is a phono-semantic compound formed from the semantic radical 亻 (rén), meaning person, and the phonetic component 官 (guān), meaning official. It denotes a person who tends to domestic animals, such as a herdsman, swineherd, or cowherd. Historically, it also referred to workers in establishments like teahouses or taverns. The human radical indicates the character represents a person’s occupation. While 官 provides the pronunciation, here it lacks the sense of governmental authority, instead designating laborers in animal husbandry or service roles.
Etymology Hide
