official career; government service
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
official career; path of government service
literaryA literary term referring to the career trajectory of government officials in imperial China. Often carries connotations of ambition, prestige, and political struggle. Frequently appears in fixed expressions describing career success or failure.
Tā他
shì仕
tú途
duō多
chuǎn舛
，
lǚ屡
zāo遭
biǎn贬
zhé谪
。
He suffered many setbacks in his official career and was repeatedly demoted.
Zhè这
wèi位
guān官
yuán员
shì仕
tú途
dé得
yì意
，
nián年
jǐn仅
sì四
shí十
jiù就
guān官
zhì至
zǎi宰
xiàng相
。
This official had a successful career, becoming prime minister at the young age of forty.
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Zài在
gǔ古
dài代
，
dú读
shū书
rén人
wéi唯
yī一
de的
chū出
lù路
jiù就
shì是
bù步
rù入
shì仕
tú途
。
In ancient times, the only way out for scholars was to embark on an official career.