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权贵 (quán guì) — influential figures; bigwigs (often with a critical tone)

Definition

Refers collectively to people in powerful, high-ranking positions whose influence comes from political or social status — usually used critically. Often appears in political or historical writing alongside 百姓 or 腐败.

noun
influential figuresbigwigs (often with a critical tone)

Examples

  • 权贵，。
    Zhè xiē quán guì zhǐ gù zì jǐ de lì yì, bú gù bǎi xìng sǐ huó.
    These bigwigs only care about their own interests and don't care about the people's welfare.
  • 权贵。
    Lì shǐ shàng xǔ duō quán guì zuì zhōng dōu luò de bēi cǎn xià chǎng.
    Many influential figures in history ended up with a tragic fate.
  • 权贵。
    Fǎn fǔ bài yùn dòng dǎ jī le yì pī quán guì.
    The anti-corruption campaign cracked down on a group of bigwigs.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

权quánpower
贵guìnoble/high rank

权 is power, and 贵 is high rank, yielding powerful nobles.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 權; 权 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
雚
雚guàn權quán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 權 shows 木, a tree, with 雚 giving the sound; it named a kind of tree and was used for a standard weight. The simplified 权 is a later shorthand, not the historical shape.

Open 权 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 貴; 贵 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèimoney cowrie
Sound part声符shēngfú
臾
臾yú貴guì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 貴 uses 貝, a money cowrie, for meaning and 臾 for sound. The simplified 贵 is a later shorthand, and its parts are not the old parts.

Open 贵 →
Appears in
Social Roles & Status

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