officialdom; bureaucracy; the world of officials
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
the officialdom; the bureaucratic world; the unpredictable sea of official life
literaryA metaphorical term, often describing the treacherous and competitive nature of political careers.
Tā他
bàn半
shēng生
huàn宦
hǎi海
chén沉
fú浮
，
kàn看
tòu透
le了
rén人
qíng情
lěng冷
nuǎn暖
。
He has experienced the ups and downs of officialdom for half his life and has seen through the fickleness of human relationships.
Huàn宦
hǎi海
fēng风
bō波
xiǎn险
è恶
，
yī一
bù不
xiǎo小
xīn心
jiù就
huì会
shēn身
bài败
míng名
liè裂
。
The storms of officialdom are treacherous; a single misstep can lead to utter ruin.
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Fù父
qin亲
gào告
jiè诫
tā他
，
huàn宦
hǎi海
zhī之
zhōng中
zuì最
zhòng重
jǐn谨
yán言
shèn慎
xíng行
。
His father warned him that in the world of officials, caution in speech and action is of utmost importance.