mù
幕友
curtain; act; official post
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
assistant official; private secretary
archaicA historical term for private, non-official administrative assistants hired by local magistrates to handle legal, financial, and clerical affairs. Often used in reference to the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Zhè这
wèi位
xiàn县
tài太
yé爷
qǐng请
le了
yī一
wèi位
Shào绍
xīng兴
shī师
yé爷
zuò作
mù幕
yǒu友
。
This county magistrate hired a Shaoxing private secretary as his assistant official.
Mù幕
yǒu友
suī虽
wú无
guān官
zhí职
，
dàn但
quán权
lì力
bù不
xiǎo小
。
Although assistant officials held no official rank, they wielded considerable power.
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Tā他
zhǔ主
yào要
fù负
zé责
xíng刑
míng名
qián钱
gǔ谷
，
shì是
gè个
lǎo老
liàn练
de的
mù幕
yǒu友
。
He was primarily responsible for legal and financial matters, a seasoned assistant official.
Mù幕
yǒu友
yǔ与
guān官
yuán员
zhī之
jiān间
cháng常
cháng常
shì是
bīn宾
zhǔ主
guān关
xì系
。
The relationship between an assistant official and the magistrate was often one of guest and host.