petty official; minor functionary; small potato
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Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
petty official; minor functionary; small potato
derogatoryA metaphorical idiom comparing a low-ranking official to a tiny sesame seed, implying insignificance and lack of real power. Often used with a derogatory or satirical tone. Can take the rhotic suffix '儿' (芝麻官儿) in spoken Northern Mandarin.
Tā他
zài在
zhè这
gè个
xiǎo小
xiàn县
chéng城
lǐ里
dāng当
le了
shí十
jǐ几
nián年
de的
zhī芝
ma麻
guān官
，
yī一
zhí直
méi没
shēng升
shàng上
qu去
。
He has been a petty official in this small county town for over a decade, never getting promoted.
Bié别
kàn看
tā他
zhǐ只
shì是
gè个
qī七
pǐn品
zhī芝
ma麻
guān官
，
guān官
wēi威
dào倒
bù不
xiǎo小
。
Don't be fooled by him being just a seventh-rank petty official; he puts on quite a show of authority.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
zhī芝
ma麻
guān官
r儿
néng能
yǒu有
shén什
me么
shí实
quán权
？
What real power could this kind of petty official possibly have?
Xiǎo小
xiǎo小
zhī芝
ma麻
guān官
，
jìng竟
rán然
yě也
gǎn敢
tān贪
wū污
shòu受
huì贿
。
Such a minor petty official actually dares to embezzle and accept bribes.