亲信 (qīn xìn) — trusted follower, confidant

Definition

A trusted subordinate or close ally of a leader/authority figure — carries a negative sense, implying loyal followers who may be used for personal or political gain.

noun

trusted followerconfidant

Measure word · 个

Examples

亲信。
Tā shì zǒng tǒng de qīn xìn.
He is the president's trusted follower.
亲信。
Zhè wèi lǐng dǎo shēn biān yǒu jǐ gè qīn xìn.
This leader has several trusted followers around him.
亲信。
Zhè xiē qīn xìn duì tā fēi cháng zhōng chéng.
These trusted followers are very loyal to him.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

亲qīnclose

信xìntrust

亲 (close) and 信 (trust) combine to describe someone kept near and trusted.

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 親; 亲 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

見見jiànsee

Sound part声符shēngfú

辛

辛xīn親qīn

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 親 uses 見 (see) for sense and 辛 (a chisel) for sound; the simplified 亲 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 亲 →

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

言言yánwords

Sound part声符shēngfú

人

人rén信xìn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

信 pairs 人 as the sound part with 言 (words) as the meaning part.

Open 信 →

Appears in

Social Roles & Status