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仆从 (pú cóng) — retainer; footman; retinue (a servant or attendant, especially in a historical or noble context)

Definition

A historical or literary noun for a servant or attendant who follows a noble or master. Implies a group of personal retainers rather than a single hired worker, and carries a strong feudal-era tone — you will mostly meet it in historical texts.

noun
retainerfootmanretinue (a servant or attendant, especially in a historical or noble context)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 仆从。
    Zhè wèi guì zú shēn hòu gēn zhe yì qún pú cóng.
    This noble was followed by a retinue of attendants.
  • 仆从。
    Gǔ dài de wáng gōng dà chén dōu yǒu zhuān mén de pú cóng cì hou.
    In ancient times, princes and ministers all had dedicated retainers to serve them.
  • 仆从，。
    Tā suī rán shì guì zú de pú cóng, dàn jǔ zhǐ hěn yǒu jiào yǎng.
    Although he was a retainer of the nobility, his manners were very cultured.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

仆púservant
从cóngattendant

“仆” and “从” both point to attendants, combining to mean a retainer.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
卜
卜bǔ仆pú
Same sound today

The left side 人 marks the character as related to a person, and the right side 卜 gives its sound.

Open 仆 →

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 從; 从 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
从
从cóng從cóng
Same sound today

The traditional form 從 pairs 辵 (walk) with 从, which gives the sound; the character was originally written 从.

Open 从 →
Appears in
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