司

sī

to take charge of

surname Si; to manage; department (under a ministry)

Authority over the mouth (口) = to take charge, manage

The mouth (口) here suggests giving orders or directives — whoever speaks with authority manages and governs. The upper portion of 司 is an ancient hand or hook shape indicating control, framing the idea of one who commands.

口→司
口MouthSemantic

他在外交部礼宾司工作。

tā zài wài jiāo bù lǐ bīn sī gōng zuò。

He works in the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

这个部门专门司管文件的审批工作。

zhè ge bù mén zhuān mén sī guǎn wén jiàn de shěn pī gōng zuò。

This department is specifically in charge of managing the approval of documents.

Words with 司

百货公司

bǎi huò gōng sī

department store

美国航空公司

měi guó háng kōng gōng sī

American Airlines

阿司匹林

ā sī pǐ lín

(loanword) aspirin

司法

sī fǎ

judicial

司职

sī zhí

to serve in the role of

苹果公司

píng guǒ gōng sī

Apple Inc.

司马懿

sī mǎ yì

Sima Yi (179-251), warlord under Cao Cao and subsequently founder of the Jin dynasty

律政司

lǜ zhèng sī

Department of Justice (Hong Kong)

司导

sī dǎo

driver-guide

通用汽车公司

tōng yòng qì chē gōng sī

General Motors

阴司

yīn sī

hell

开司米

kāi sī mǐ

(loanword) cashmere

More characters with 口

㲋亨京亮事嗣嗾亭