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主管 (zhǔ guǎn) — (verb) to be in charge of; to be responsible for; (noun) person in charge; manager

Definition

主管 covers both the verb ('to be in charge of') and the noun ('the person in charge'), usually of a department. 管 is the everyday verb for managing something general; 负责人 names a point-person responsible for a task.

verb
to be in charge ofto be responsible for
noun
person in chargemanager
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 主管。
    Tā zhǔ guǎn zhè ge bù mén.
    He is in charge of this department.
  • 主管。
    Wǒ men zhǔ guǎn hěn yán gé.
    Our manager is very strict.
  • 主管。
    Tā zhǔ guǎn gōng sī de cái wù.
    She manages the company's finances.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

主zhǔtake charge
管guǎnmanage

主 and 管 both mean taking charge and managing, so the word means being in charge.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
官
官guān管guǎn
Same sound today

管 has 竹 (bamboo) on top to show it relates to bamboo, and 官 gives its sound.

Open 管 →
Appears in
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