知事
ちじ · chiji · JLPT N3 · noun
governor
🏛️ 知事 = know + affairs: the one who knows (runs) the prefecture's affairs
In old Chinese official titles, 知 meant to manage: a 知府 ran a prefecture and a 知県 ran a county. Japan kept 知事 for the official in charge of a prefecture's affairs, so here 知 means to be in charge of, not just to know.
事 — hand 又 holding a banner/tablet on a pole
Originally a pictograph of a hand (又) grasping a pole or ceremonial banner used by an official, depicting the act of conducting court business. From this it came to mean 'affair, matter, business, service.' It shares an ancient origin with 史 (scribe) and 吏 (official).