() — low-level official (in imperial China); clerk

Definition

吏 is a bound historical term for a low-ranking clerk or minor official in imperial China. In modern usage it only appears in set compounds like 官吏, 吏部, or 官吏家庭 — never as a standalone word.

bound form
low-level official (in imperial China)clerk

Examples

  • Gǔ dài guān lì de zhí zé shì shén me?
    What were the duties of ancient officials?
  • lì Bù shì gǔ dài fù zé guān yuán rèn mìng de jī gòu.
    The Ministry of Personnel was the ancient institution responsible for appointing officials.
  • Tā chū shēn yú yí gè guān lì jiā tíng.
    He was born into a family of low-ranking officials.

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