master; puppet master
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
master (as addressed by servants in feudal times); (figurative) puppet master; one who pulls the strings
Historically used by servants to address their master with deference. In contemporary usage, it often carries a negative connotation when referring metaphorically to a hidden manipulator or controller behind the scenes.
Jiù旧
shè社
huì会
，
nú奴
pú仆
jiàn见
dào到
zhǔ主
zi子
bì必
xū须
xià下
guì跪
kē磕
tóu头
。
In the old society, servants had to kneel and kowtow when they saw their master.
Tā他
biǎo表
miàn面
shang上
shì是
gè个
lǎo老
bǎn板
，
shí实
jì际
shang上
bèi背
hòu后
hái还
yǒu有
dà大
zhǔ主
zi子
。
He appears to be a boss, but there is actually a bigger puppet master behind him.
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Zhè这
xiē些
dǎ打
shou手
zhǐ只
shì是
xiǎo小
lóu喽
luo啰
，
zhēn真
zhèng正
de的
zhǔ主
zi子
duǒ躲
zài在
àn暗
chù处
cāo操
zòng纵
yī一
qiè切
。
These thugs are just underlings; the real puppet master hides in the shadows pulling all the strings.
Zài在
nú奴
cai才
de的
yǎn眼
lǐ里
，
zhǔ主
zi子
de的
huà话
jiù就
shì是
shèng圣
zhǐ旨
。
In the eyes of a slave, the master's words are imperial edicts.