official's attire; scholar-official class
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 3 examplesnoun
the official class; the gentry; scholar-officials
literaryA classical term referring to the class of Confucian scholars who held government office in imperial China. It is used in historical and literary contexts.
Jìn缙
shēn绅
zhī之
jiā家
duō多
cáng藏
yǒu有
gǔ古
shū书
。
Families of the official gentry often kept ancient books.
Zhè这
ge个
gù故
shi事
zài在
jìn缙
shēn绅
zhōng中
guǎng广
wéi为
liú流
chuán传
。
This story was widely circulated among the scholar-official class.
noun
official's attire (traditional red sash inserted in the belt)
archaicRefers specifically to the red sash that officials wore, into which they would insert their ivory tablets (笏). This is the original, more literal meaning.
Tā他
shēn身
zhuó着
jìn缙
shēn绅
，
rù入
cháo朝
jìn觐
jiàn见
。
Dressed in official attire, he entered the court for an audience.