high-ranking incompetent officials; useless bureaucrats
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
high-ranking officials who hold positions but accomplish nothing; incompetent bureaucrats
derogatoryA derogatory term originating from classical Chinese literature (Du Fu's poetry), used to criticize high-ranking officials who are incompetent, inactive, or only care about maintaining their privileges.
Nà那
xiē些
gǔn衮
gǔn衮
zhū诸
gōng公
zhǐ只
huì会
kōng空
tán谈
，
cóng从
bù不
bàn办
shí实
shì事
。
Those incompetent high officials only talk empty words and never do practical things.
Miàn面
duì对
wēi危
jī机
，
gǔn衮
gǔn衮
zhū诸
gōng公
shù束
shǒu手
wú无
cè策
，
háo毫
wú无
zuò作
wéi为
。
In the face of crisis, these high-ranking useless bureaucrats are at a loss and accomplish nothing.
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Tā他
bù不
yuàn愿
yǔ与
nà那
xiē些
gǔn衮
gǔn衮
zhū诸
gōng公
tóng同
liú流
hé合
wū污
。
He is unwilling to associate with those incompetent high officials and wallow in the mire with them.