retainer; client; hanger-on in feudal households
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
retainer; client; hanger-on (in feudal aristocratic or bureaucratic households)
literaryA historical term referring to individuals who lived in the households of feudal lords, officials, or aristocrats. They provided services such as advice, companionship, assistance, or specialized skills in exchange for patronage, lodging, and financial support. They were part of the client-patron system.
Mèng孟
cháng尝
jūn君
yǒu有
mén门
kè客
shù数
qiān千
rén人
。
Lord Mengchang had several thousand retainers.
Zhè这
wèi位
mén门
kè客
wèi为
zhǔ主
rén人
chū出
móu谋
huà划
cè策
，
lì立
xià下
dà大
gōng功
。
This retainer devised strategies for his master and rendered great service.
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Zhàn战
guó国
shí时
qī期
，
xǔ许
duō多
yǒu有
cái才
huá华
de的
rén人
dōu都
qù去
tóu投
kào靠
guì贵
zú族
dāng当
mén门
kè客
。
During the Warring States period, many talented people sought patronage from aristocrats to become retainers.
Tā他
jiā家
lǐ里
yǎng养
le了
yī一
pī批
mén门
kè客
，
zhěng整
rì日
qīng清
tán谈
。
He kept a group of hangers-on at home who spent all day in idle philosophical talk.