demote; demotion; relegation
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to demote; to relegate to a lower official position
archaicRefers specifically to demotion in the ancient Chinese bureaucratic system, where positions on the left were considered inferior to those on the right. This term is now primarily used in historical contexts or formal writing discussing ancient history.
Tā他
yīn因
dé得
zuì罪
quán权
guì贵
ér而
bèi被
zuǒ左
qiān迁
zhì至
biān边
yuǎn远
dì地
qū区
。
He offended powerful officials and was demoted to a remote frontier region.
Zài在
gǔ古
dài代
，
zuǒ左
qiān迁
yì意
wèi味
zhe着
biǎn贬
guān官
jiàng降
zhí职
。
In ancient times, zuǒqiān meant being demoted and stripped of rank.
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Zhè这
wèi位
dà大
chén臣
bù不
xìng幸
zuǒ左
qiān迁
，
yuǎn远
lí离
jīng京
chéng城
。
This minister was unfortunately demoted and sent far from the capital.