official, eunuch

宦 is composed of 宀 (roof) and 臣 (minister). 宀 is a pictograph of a roof, implying a household, while 臣 refers to an official. Thus, 宦 is often used to denote officials in the emperor’s household. Additionally, to ensure the purity of the imperial bloodline, male officials working in the palace were castrated, so 宦 also means eunuch.