漢
カン, はん
Sino-, China
JLPT4 G3 S13 F1487
The relevant oracle bone form of ?shows the stretched hide of an animal tied to a frame + 火 fire → stretch an object for drying over a fire. According to this process the object shrinks, leaving a minute remainder. 漢 is as per ?# (stretch) + 水 water → great, stretching river → the Milky Way (← constellation likened to a great, flowing river). The meaning *China* comes from a broad application of 漢's use in the name of the Hanshui River (漢水) in Hubei Province. Also, *man* (← ordinary male ← general populace ← general term for China).
[Full Kanji Etymology List]