知事 (zhī shì) — (historical) county magistrate (in imperial China); (modern) prefectural governor (in Japan)

Definition

A historical Chinese term for a county magistrate in imperial China, and the modern Japanese title for an elected prefectural governor. Don't confuse with 知识 ('knowledge') — same zhī, different word.

noun
(historical) county magistrate (in imperial China)(modern) prefectural governor (in Japan)
Measure word · 个
Easily confused

Examples

  • 知事。
    Zhè wèi zhī shì zài rèn qī jiān zuò le hěn duō hǎo shì.
    This county magistrate did many good deeds during his term.
  • 知事。
    Rì běn gè xiàn de zhī shì yóu xuǎn jǔ chǎn shēng.
    The governors of Japan's prefectures are elected.
  • 知事，。
    Qīng cháo de zhī shì quán lì hěn dà, guǎn lǐ quán xiàn shì wù.
    Qing dynasty county magistrates had great power and managed all county affairs.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

知zhīknow
事shìaffairs

One who knows affairs; 知 means know and 事 means affairs.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

An early form of 知 showed 大 (adult), 口 (mouth), and 子 (child): an adult speaking to a child to pass on knowledge. The 子 part was dropped, and the 大 part changed shape.

Open 知 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 事, 又 is a hand and 中 is a flagpole with a drum; holding a flag in hand depicts performing a job.

Open 事 →

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