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One word, One Story Per Week【官】一周一字一故事

Double-Mouthed Officials: The Witty Wordplay of a Cunning Strategist

My illustration “Rise to Prosperity and Fortune”

It’s time for Rudy’s Weekly One Word, One Story again! Hurry up and grab a chair to listen to the story! Haha.

Let’s start with today’s word,“官” (guān), which has a formal meaning in written Chinese.

“官” (guān) is composed of the radical “宀” (mián), representing a roof, and “垖” (duī), which is similar in meaning to “堆” (duī) and conveys the idea of gazing. The character “眔” (dā) is also associated with it, representing eyes looking at each other.

In its written form,“官” originally referred to the official residence or office of government officials, hence “官府” (guānfǔ), meaning “official government.” Over time, it extended to mean official positions, officials, and so on.

My illustration “Official”

That’s the written meaning, which can be quite boring. Let me tell you some interesting colloquial meanings of the word “官。”

Chinese characters often combine elements to create vivid imagery and symbolism. For example, let’s take a look at some expressions related to the word “官”:

“官字两张口” (guān zì liǎng zhāng kǒu): The character “官” consists of “宝盖头”(bǎo gài tóu, meaning “treasure hat”),“口”(kǒu, meaning “mouth”), and another “口”(kǒu, also meaning “mouth”). This saying implies that the words of officials cannot be relied upon, as they tend to be unreliable and ever-changing.

My illustration “Winning the Championship”

Now, let’s dive into the story:

In ancient China, there was a famous politician and military strategist named Cao Cao. He was known for his intelligence, wit, and clever rhetoric.

One day, Cao Cao gathered several officials to discuss important matters. These officials were experienced individuals, but some of them lacked eloquence.

Cao Cao began by asking them a question: “Why does the character ‘官’ have two mouths?”

One official hesitated for a moment and then replied, “It is because officials need to express their viewpoints and decisions through words.”

My illustration “Cao Cao’s Q&A”

Cao Cao smiled slightly and turned to the second official, asking,“Then why does the character ‘兵’ have two hands?”

The official pondered for a while and answered,“I believe that soldiers need both hands to wield weapons and carry out tasks.”

Cao Cao nodded and turned to the third official, saying,“What do you think about the character ‘官’ having two mouths?”

My illustration “Cao Cao’s Smile”

The official felt a bit nervous, thought for a moment, and replied,“Sometimes, officials’ words can contradict themselves as they need to weigh various factors and interests.”

Cao Cao listened to their answers with a smile and said,“Your answers are all reasonable, but let me tell you a secret. The character ‘官’ has two mouths because officials’ tongues have no bones, allowing themto twist and turn as they please.”

My illustration “Officer’s Smile”

This story humorously reveals the fickleness and unreliability of officials’ rhetoric. With his unique wisdom and sense of humor, Cao Cao made people laugh while also urging them to be cautious and think critically about the words of officials.

My illustration “Hahaha”
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