guānguàn

observe

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Components
見 meaning component

  Meaning component

jiànxiàn

  

see

雚 sound component

  Sound component

guànhuán

  

heron

Evolution

觀 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
觀 Bronze script Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze script

Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
觀 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
觀 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
觀 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

() 

guān

see, observe, view; appearance; to look at; to watch; to observe; to behold; to advise; concept; point of view; outlook

() 

Guàn

surname Guan

() 

guàn

Taoist monastery; palace gate watchtower; platform

Most common words with 觀
Freq.
Word
Meaning

观众

spectators

观察

to observe

观点

point of view

to look at

观看

to watch