yamen runner; lackey; henchman
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
yamen runner; constable; minor government messenger (in imperial China)
Refers to low-ranking government runners in imperial China who performed menial tasks such as delivering documents and maintaining order.
Zài在
gǔ古
dài代
，
zǒu走
zú卒
fù负
zé责
chuán传
dì递
gōng公
wén文
。
In ancient times, yamen runners were responsible for delivering official documents.
Tā他
bù不
guò过
shì是
yá衙
mén门
lǐ里
de的
yī一
gè个
xiǎo小
zǒu走
zú卒
。
He was merely a lowly runner in the yamen.
noun
lackey; henchman; minion; cat's-paw
derogatoryFigurative and derogatory. Refers to someone who is controlled or kept by another (such as a criminal boss or oppressive power) and carries out their evil deeds, dirty work, or oppressive orders.
Tā他
chéng成
le了
zī资
běn本
jiā家
de的
zǒu走
zú卒
。
He became a lackey of the capitalists.
Bù不
yào要
dāng当
huài坏
rén人
de的
zǒu走
zú卒
。
Don't be a henchman for bad people.
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Nà那
xiē些
zǒu走
zú卒
wèi为
hǔ虎
zuò作
chāng伥
，
qī欺
yā压
bǎi百
xìng姓
。
Those minions acted as accomplices for the tiger, oppressing the common people.
Zài在
zhè这
gè个
yīn阴
móu谋
zhōng中
，
tā他
zhǐ只
shì是
gè个
xiǎo小
zǒu走
zú卒
。
In this conspiracy, he was just a small pawn.