Definition
吏 is a bound form (b.f.) meaning 'low-level official' or 'clerk' in imperial China. It appears in compounds such as 官吏 (government officials) and 吏部 (the Ministry of Personnel in ancient China). You won't use 吏 alone in modern Chinese; it always combines with another character.
b.f.
low-level official (in imperial China)clerk
Examples
- ？Gǔdài guānlì de zhízé shì shénme?What were the duties of ancient officials?
- 吏。lì bù shì gǔdài fùzé guānyuán rènmìng de jīgòu.The Ministry of Personnel was the ancient institution responsible for appointing officials.
- 。tā chūshēn yú yí gè guānlì jiātíng.He was born into a family of low-ranking officials.
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