About
The character "管" is structured as a pictophonetic compound, combining the bamboo radical with the phonetic component "官", which initially guided its pronunciation while hinting at its early association with bamboo-made objects. Its original meaning centered on a specific musical instrument, a flute crafted from bamboo, reflecting the material denoted by the radical. Over centuries, the term expanded to encompass any narrow, tube-like conduit, such as a pipe or a tube, based on the shared shape and function. From this concrete sense, the character acquired abstract verbal meanings related to control and administration, akin to how a pipe directs flow, evolving into uses such as "to manage" or "to be in charge", thereby extending its semantic field from physical objects to realms of governance and oversight.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他管图书馆。
妈妈管我的作业。
这个水管需要修理。
不管天气如何，我们都去。
公司管理很严格。
你管好你自己的事。
政府应该管环境污染。
他负责管理整个项目。