侍郎 (shì láng) — (historical) assistant minister, vice minister…

Definition

侍郎 (shì láng) was the vice minister under each of the Six Ministries (六部) of imperial China, ranking just below the minister 尚书.

noun

(historical) assistant ministervice minister (in imperial Chinese government)

Measure word · 位

侍郎。
Táng dài de shì láng shì cháo tíng de zhòng yào guān yuán.
The assistant minister of the Tang dynasty was an important court official.
侍郎。
Tā céng zài lì bù dān rèn shì láng yì zhí.
He once held the position of assistant minister in the Ministry of Personnel.
侍郎。
Zhè bù xiǎo shuō lǐ xiě le yí wèi gāng zhèng bù ē de shì láng.
This novel depicts an upright and impartial assistant minister.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

侍 (attend) and 郎 (official) combine to name an official who served in attendance.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

⺅Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

寺

寺sì侍shì

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

侍 has 人 (person) paired with 寺, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

邑邑yìcounty; town

Sound part声符shēngfú

良

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

郎 combines 良, which gives the sound, with 邑, meaning county or town.