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幕僚 (mù liáo) — aides and staff (in an organization); (historical) advisor to a high-ranking official or general

Definition

A historical term for advisors and staff to high officials or generals, mainly in imperial or military contexts. In modern use it can extend to senior aides in organizations.

noun
aides and staff (in an organization)(historical) advisor to a high-ranking official or general

Examples

  • 幕僚，。
    Tā shì yí wèi zhòng yào de jūn shì mù liáo, cān yù le xǔ duō zuò zhàn jì huà.
    He was an important military staff officer who participated in many battle plans.
  • 幕僚。
    Zǒng tǒng de mù liáo men zhèng zài tǎo lùn xīn de jīng jì zhèng cè.
    The president's aides are discussing the new economic policy.
  • 幕僚。
    Lì shǐ shàng hěn duō mù liáo dōu wèi huáng dì chū móu huà cè.
    In history, many staff advisors offered strategies for the emperor.

Origin

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.

幕mùcurtain
僚liáoofficial

幕 recalls the curtain of a general's tent, and 僚 means officials serving there, giving aides and staff.

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
巾巾jīncloth
Sound part声符shēngfú
莫
莫mò幕mù
Same sound today

幕 combines 莫 above 巾 (cloth); 莫 gives the sound.

Open 幕 →

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
人人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
尞
尞liáo僚liáo
Same sound today

僚 combines 人 (person) with 尞, which supplies the sound liáo.

Open 僚 →
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