sly/unruly people; derogatory term for defiant commoners
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 3 examplesnoun
sly/troublesome people; cunning commoners
archaicA general historical term for people considered crafty or difficult to manage, often implying they defy authority through trickery.
Zhè这
wèi位
xiàn县
guān官
jiāng将
nà那
xiē些
bù不
jiāo交
shuì税
de的
dōu都
shì视
wéi为
diāo刁
mín民
。
This county magistrate viewed all those who didn't pay taxes as unruly commoners.
noun
derogatory term for defiant commoners; unruly subjects
archaicSpecifically a derogatory term used by officials in imperial China to label and discredit common people who resisted authority, refused to obey, or caused trouble. It reflects a top-down, oppressive perspective.
Guān官
fǔ府
gào告
shì示
shàng上
xiě写
zhe着
：
fán凡
jù聚
zhòng众
nào闹
shì事
zhě者
，
jiē皆
shì是
diāo刁
mín民
。
The official proclamation stated: Anyone who gathers a crowd to cause trouble is a defiant commoner.
Zài在
jiù旧
xiǎo小
shuō说
lǐ里
，
fǎn反
kàng抗
tān贪
guān官
de的
bǎi百
xìng姓
cháng常
bèi被
wū污
miè蔑
wéi为
diāo刁
mín民
。
In old novels, commoners who resisted corrupt officials were often slandered as troublesome subjects.