official's desk; perplexing case
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesnoun
official's desk used in court; judge's bench
archaicThis is an archaic, specialized term for the furniture.
Gǔ古
dài代
guān官
yuán员
zài在
gōng公
àn案
qián前
shěn审
lǐ理
àn案
jiàn件
。
Ancient officials judged cases before the official's desk.
Tā他
zuò坐
zài在
gōng公
àn案
hòu后
miàn面
，
xiǎn显
dé得
fēi非
cháng常
wēi威
yán严
。
He sat behind the judge's bench, looking very dignified.
noun
perplexing legal case; intricate affair; mystery
The modern and more common meaning, used in contexts from law to literature.
Zhè这
zhuāng桩
fù复
zá杂
de的
jīn金
róng融
gōng公
àn案
tuō拖
le了
sān三
nián年
cái才
jié结
àn案
。
This complex financial case dragged on for three years before being settled.
Tā他
xǐ喜
huān欢
dú读
gōng公
àn案
xiǎo小
shuō说
，
tè特
bié别
shì是
nà那
xiē些
miáo描
xiě写
shén神
tàn探
pò破
àn案
de的
gù故
shi事
。
He likes to read mystery novels, especially those about brilliant detectives solving cases.
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Tā他
men们
jiā家
de的
cái财
chǎn产
jiū纠
fēn纷
chéng成
le了
yī一
zhuāng桩
nán难
jiě解
de的
gōng公
àn案
。
Their family's property dispute became an intractable case.