prime minister; chancellor; grand councilor
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
prime minister; chancellor; grand councilor
archaicHistorically refers to the highest-ranking official in imperial China who assisted the emperor in governing. The specific title varied by dynasty (e.g., 丞相 in Qin/Han, 同中书门下平章事 in Song). In modern usage, often used metaphorically for high-ranking officials or in idioms.
Zhū诸
gě葛
Liàng亮
shì是
Sān三
guó国
shí时
qí期
Shǔ蜀
Hàn汉
de的
zǎi宰
xiàng相
。
Zhuge Liang was the chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period.
Zǎi宰
xiàng相
dù肚
lǐ里
néng能
chēng撑
chuán船
，
nín您
jiù就
bié别
gēn跟
tā他
jì计
jiào较
le了
。
The prime minister's stomach can hold a boat—don't quibble with him.
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Zài在
Táng唐
dài代
，
zǎi宰
xiàng相
yī一
bān般
yóu由
Sān三
shěng省
zhǎng长
guān官
dān担
rèn任
。
During the Tang Dynasty, the chancellor was generally appointed from the heads of the Three Departments.