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说客 (shuì kè) — (historical) persuasive envoy, person sent to lobby another ruler; (derogatory) lobbyist, manipulative persuader

Definition

说客 (shuì kè) is a persuader hired to lobby someone in power, with a negative sense — implying manipulation through smooth talk. The neutral action is 游说 (yòu shuì, to lobby); 说客 is the person, and the tone is usually critical.

noun
(historical) persuasive envoy, person sent to lobby another ruler(derogatory) lobbyistmanipulative persuader
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • ，说客。
    Zhàn guó shí qī, gè guó jīng cháng pài shuì kè qù yóu shuì qí tā jūn zhǔ.
    During the Warring States period, states often sent lobbyists to persuade other rulers.
  • 说客，。
    Tā kàn qǐ lái xiàng gè shuì kè, zǒng xiǎng yòng huā yán qiǎo yǔ shuō fú bié rén.
    He looks like a lobbyist, always trying to persuade others with sweet talk.
  • 说客，。
    Zhè xiē shuì kè zài huì yì shàng bú duàn yóu shuì, shì tú yǐng xiǎng jué cè.
    These lobbyists kept persuading at the meeting, trying to influence the decision.

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.

说shuōpersuade
客kèperson

说 means persuade and 客 means a person, so it names a persuasive person.

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 說; 说 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì說shuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 說 pairs 言 (meaning) with 兌 (sound); the simplified 说 is not the form described here.

Open 说 →

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè客kè
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 客, 宀 is a roof and 各 gives the sound; the character meant a guest.

Open 客 →
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