臣 (chén) — (historical) subject, minister, official (under a ruler); (humble, self-referential, archaic) I, your servant (used when addressing the emperor)
Definition
Historical term for an official serving a ruler; also the humble, archaic first-person 'I' a minister used when speaking to the emperor (e.g. 臣不敢).
noun
(historical) subjectministerofficial (under a ruler)(humble, self-referential, archaic) Iyour servant (used when addressing the emperor)
Measure word · 个
Examples
- 。Gǔ dài zhōng chén yǐ sǐ bào guó.In ancient times, loyal subjects would die to repay the state.
- 臣，。chén Bù gǎn qī jūn, qǐng bì xià míng chá.I, your servant, dare not deceive the sovereign; please investigate thoroughly, Your Majesty.
- ，。Mǎn cháo wén wǔ dà chén, jiē guì fú yú dì.All the civil and military grand officials of the court knelt prostrate on the ground.
Origin
Pictograph六书liùshū
象形xiàngxíngA drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.
臣 is shaped like a man's vertical eye looking downward.
Appears in
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