surname; family name; clan name
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
surname; family name (compound surname)
A compound surname (复姓) of ancient origin. In ancient China, it also referred to the official position of Grand Historian (太史令), who was responsible for astronomy, calendar-making, and recording historical events.
Tài太
shǐ史
Cí慈
shì是
Sān三
Guó国
shí时
qī期
Dōng东
Wú吴
de的
míng名
jiàng将
。
Tai Shi Ci was a famous general of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period.
Wǒ我
de的
xīn新
tóng同
shì事
xìng姓
Tài太
shǐ史
。
My new colleague's surname is Taishi.
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Sī司
Mǎ马
Qiān迁
céng曾
rèn任
tài太
shǐ史
lìng令
，
hòu后
shì世
zūn尊
chēng称
qí其
wéi为
Tài太
shǐ史
gōng公
。
Sima Qian once served as the Grand Historian, and later generations respectfully referred to him as the Grand Historian (Lord Taishi).