derogatory term for the common people; the ignorant masses
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
derogatory term used by the ruling class for the common people; the ignorant masses; the rabble
archaicOriginally a contemptuous term used by the elite or rulers to refer to the uneducated common people. Carries strong negative connotations and is considered archaic and literary.
Zài在
gǔ古
dài代
，
tǒng统
zhì治
zhě者
wǎng往
wǎng往
jiāng将
fǎn反
kàng抗
de的
bǎi百
xìng姓
shì视
wéi为
qún群
méng氓
。
In ancient times, rulers often regarded rebellious commoners as ignorant masses.
Zhè这
zhǒng种
jīng精
yīng英
zhǔ主
yì义
de的
guān观
diǎn点
bǎ把
pǔ普
tōng通
mín民
zhòng众
biǎn贬
dī低
wéi为
qún群
méng氓
。
This elitist view degrades ordinary people into a mindless mob.
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Qún群
méng氓
zhī之
yú愚
，
zài在
yú于
bù不
zhī知
qí其
yú愚
。
The ignorance of the masses lies in not knowing they are ignorant.