绅 (shēn) — gentry, the class of scholar-officials in traditional China; (historical) sash worn by officials as a symbol of rank
Definition
绅 refers to the scholar-gentry class in imperial China — local elites (often former officials) who led rural communities. Today it survives mostly in 绅士 ('gentleman') and 乡绅 (country gentry).
noun
gentry, the class of scholar-officials in traditional China(historical) sash worn by officials as a symbol of rank
Examples
- 绅。Gǔ dài guān yuán de shēn dài xiàng zhēng qí shēn fèn.The sash of ancient officials symbolized their status.
- 。Zhè wèi shēn shì zài dāng dì hěn yǒu yǐng xiǎng lì.This gentleman has great influence locally.
- 。Xǔ duō xiāng shēn dōu zhī chí xiū jiàn xué xiào.Many country gentry supported building schools.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 紳; 绅 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìthread
The traditional form 紳 pairs 糸 (thread) with the sound 申, and represents a large sash used for formal dress.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.