scholar-officials; literati; gentry
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
scholar-officials; the literati and bureaucratic class in feudal China
Historically refers to the educated elite who held or aspired to hold government positions during imperial China. The term combines cultural prestige with political power.
Shì士
dà大
fū夫
jiē阶
céng层
zài在
Zhōng中
guó国
lì历
shǐ史
shàng上
bàn扮
yǎn演
le了
zhòng重
yào要
jué角
sè色
。
The scholar-official class played an important role in Chinese history.
Gǔ古
dài代
de的
shì士
dà大
fū夫
bù不
jǐn仅
yào要
dú读
shū书
，
hái还
yào要
xué学
xí习
zhì治
guó国
zhī之
dào道
。
Ancient scholar-officials had to study not only books but also the art of governance.
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Tā他
suī虽
chū出
shēn身
hán寒
mén门
，
què却
píng凭
jiè借
cái才
huá华
jìn进
rù入
le了
shì士
dà大
fū夫
de的
háng行
liè列
。
Although he came from a humble family, he entered the ranks of scholar-officials by virtue of his talent.
Sòng宋
dài代
de的
shì士
dà大
fū夫
wén文
huà化
dá达
dào到
le了
dǐng顶
fēng峰
。
Scholar-official culture reached its peak during the Song Dynasty.