• 大臣だいじん — minister (of state)
• 家臣かしん — retainer / vassal
• 忠臣ちゅうしん — loyal retainer
• 重臣じゅうしん — senior statesman

This pictographic kanji originally represented an eye watching attentively — later adapted to mean someone who observes and serves. It evolved to represent a loyal subject or minister who serves a ruler, and appears frequently in historical or governmental terms.