local magistrate; county magistrate
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
local magistrate; county magistrate (in imperial times)
archaicA traditional term from imperial China, comparing local officials to parents who should care for the people. Often used historically or in literary contexts.
Lǎo老
bǎi百
xìng姓
dōu都
chēng称
zhè这
wèi位
xiàn县
lìng令
wéi为
qīng青
tiān天
fù父
mǔ母
guān官
。
The common people all called this county magistrate an upright parent-official.
Tā他
lì立
zhì志
yào要
zuò做
yī一
gè个
wéi为
mín民
zào造
fú福
de的
fù父
mǔ母
guān官
。
He was determined to become a parent-official who brings benefit to the people.
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Zài在
gǔ古
dài代
，
fù父
mǔ母
guān官
zhǎng掌
wò握
zhe着
yī一
xiàn县
de的
shēng生
shā杀
dà大
quán权
。
In ancient times, the parent-official held the power of life and death over an entire county.