yamen runner; bailiff; constable
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
yamen runner; bailiff; constable in a yamen
archaicRefers to the low-ranking subordinates in a yamen (government office) during imperial China. They were responsible for various duties including maintaining order, escorting prisoners, executing punishments, and running errands for magistrates. The term often carries connotations of corruption or abuse of power in historical literature.
Qīng清
cháo朝
shí时
，
yá衙
yi役
fù负
zé责
wéi维
chí持
dì地
fāng方
zhì治
ān安
。
During the Qing Dynasty, yamen runners were responsible for maintaining local public order.
Tā他
bèi被
pò迫
huì贿
lù赂
yá衙
yi役
cái才
miǎn免
yú于
láo牢
yù狱
zhī之
zāi灾
。
He was forced to bribe the bailiffs to avoid imprisonment.
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Zhè这
xiē些
yá衙
yi役
chuān穿
zhe着
tǒng统
yī一
de的
zhì制
fú服
，
shǒu手
lǐ里
ná拿
zhe着
shuǐ水
huǒ火
gùn棍
。
These yamen runners wore uniform clothing and carried wooden staffs in their hands.