guān

倌

Character · Noun

animal tender; menial laborer

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 6 examples
1.

noun

person in charge of tending livestock; animal tender; keeper

dialect

In rural or pastoral contexts. Often used with a specific animal name, suffixed with '儿' (er2).

Lǎo老
Wáng王
yǐ以
qián前
shì是
wǒ我
men们
cūn村
de的
yáng羊
guān倌
r儿
 。

Old Wang used to be the village's goat herder.

Zhè这
ge个
zhū猪
guān倌
r儿
bǎ把
zhū猪
yǎng养
de得
yòu又
féi肥
yòu又
zhuàng壮
 。

This pig keeper raises the pigs to be fat and strong.

Show 1 more example
Tā他
dāng当
le了
sān三
nián年
niú牛
guān倌
r儿
 ，
jīng经
yàn验
hěn很
fēng丰
fù富
 。

He worked as a cowherd for three years and has a lot of experience.

2.

noun

person hired for a specific, often menial, job in certain trades; menial laborer; hand

archaic

An archaic occupational term, mostly used in historical or period contexts. Often used with '堂' (hall) or the task being performed.

Jiù旧
shí时
de的
chá茶
guǎn馆
lǐ里
 ，
táng堂
guān倌
r儿
fù负
zé责
zhāo招
hu呼
kè客
rén人
 。

In old tea houses, the waiter was responsible for greeting customers.

Mò磨
fáng坊
lǐ里
yǒu有
ge个
mò磨
guān倌
r儿
 ，
zhuān专
mén门
fù负
zé责
mò磨
miàn面
 。

There was a miller in the mill who was specifically responsible for grinding flour.

Show 1 more example
Xì戏
bān班
zi子
lǐ里
yě也
yǒu有
fù负
zé责
dào道
jù具
de的
xiāng箱
guān倌
r儿
 。

In opera troupes, there was also a prop keeper.