干部 gànbù cadre
cadre; official; officer; manager
How to remember 干部: 干 do + 部 section = cadre.
Characters
How it is used
- The standard word for an official/functionary in the Party, government, army or a work unit - 他是基层干部 (tā shì jīcéng gànbù) he's a grassroots cadre.
- Not any 'manager': 干部 carries a political/organizational flavor specific to Chinese institutions; a company boss is 经理/领导, not 干部.
- Note the reading gàn (fourth tone), not the gān of 干净; collocates with 领导干部, 老干部, 提拔干部.