old term for private tutor/advisor
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
an old term of respect for a private secretary or family tutor
archaicDerives from ancient seating etiquette where the host (employer) sat in the east (东) and the guest (teacher/advisor) sat in the west (西), hence the honorific 'west seat'.
Zhāng张
jiā家
wèi为
le了
jiào教
dǎo导
zǐ子
dì弟
，
tè特
yì意
cóng从
shěng省
chéng城
pìn聘
qǐng请
le了
yī一
wèi位
yǒu有
míng名
de的
xī西
xí席
。
The Zhang family specially hired a famous private tutor from the provincial capital to educate their children.
Zhè这
wèi位
xī西
xí席
bù不
jǐn仅
jīng精
tōng通
jīng经
shǐ史
，
hái还
shàn擅
cháng长
shī诗
cí词
gē歌
fù赋
。
This tutor was not only well-versed in classics and history but also excelled at poetry and prose.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Zài在
gǔ古
dài代
，
dú读
shū书
rén人
ruò若
néng能
chéng成
wéi为
dá达
guān官
guì贵
rén人
de的
xī西
xí席
，
yě也
shì是
yī一
tiáo条
móu谋
shēng生
zhī之
lù路
。
In ancient times, becoming a private tutor for high-ranking officials was also a way for scholars to earn a living.