freeman; free citizen in slave society
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
freeman; free citizen (in ancient slave societies, referring to farmers who owned land and craftsmen who owned means of production, distinct from slaves)
formalA historical and sociological term describing a specific social class in slave societies (such as ancient Greece, Rome, or Eastern Zhou China) who possessed personal freedom and property rights.
Zài在
gǔ古
xī希
là腊
，
zì自
yóu由
mín民
kě可
yǐ以
cān参
yǔ与
chéng城
bāng邦
de的
zhèng政
zhì治
shēng生
huó活
。
In ancient Greece, free citizens could participate in the political life of the city-state.
Luó罗
mǎ马
gòng共
hé和
guó国
shí时
qī期
de的
zì自
yóu由
mín民
yǔ与
nú奴
lì隶
yǒu有
zhe着
míng明
xiǎn显
de的
shè社
huì会
dì地
wèi位
chā差
yì异
。
During the Roman Republic, there were obvious differences in social status between freemen and slaves.
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Zhè这
xiē些
zì自
yóu由
mín民
yōng拥
yǒu有
zì自
jǐ己
de的
tǔ土
dì地
hé和
zuō作
fang坊
，
xiǎng享
yǒu有
yī一
dìng定
de的
cái财
chǎn产
quán权
。
These free citizens owned their own land and workshops, enjoying certain property rights.
Yǔ与
nú奴
lì隶
bù不
tóng同
，
zì自
yóu由
mín民
xiǎng享
yǒu有
rén人
shēn身
zì自
yóu由
，
bù不
néng能
bèi被
suí随
yì意
mǎi买
mài卖
。
Unlike slaves, freemen enjoyed personal freedom and could not be bought or sold at will.