• 小(small; tiny)
• 丿(stroke; reduce)

Take the small character and remove one more stroke, and you get something scarce or meager.

• ⺮(bamboo)
• 官(official; manage)

A bamboo tube is managed by officials, so 管 means both tube and to manage.

• 門(door leaf; door panel)
• 木(tree; wood)

A wooden stick blocking the doorway means leisure and having nothing to do.

• ⼅(hook; fishhook)
• 口(mouth; speech)
• 彐(hand holding brush)

Using your hand to hold a brush and write down important spoken words from beginning to end is work.

• 小(small; tiny)
• 丿(stroke; reduce)

Take the small character and remove one more stroke, and you get something scarce or meager.

• ⺮(bamboo)
• 官(official; manage)

A bamboo tube is managed by officials, so 管 means both tube and to manage.

• 門(door leaf; door panel)
• 木(tree; wood)

A wooden stick blocking the doorway means leisure and having nothing to do.

• ⼅(hook; fishhook)
• 口(mouth; speech)
• 彐(hand holding brush)

Using your hand to hold a brush and write down important spoken words from beginning to end is work.