MINISTER  大臣相xia4ng

A OFFICIAL who acts as as ASSISTANT to a RULER.
Hypernym
  • OFFICIALADULT who WORKS IN a PUBLIC OFFICE OR IN A PUBLIC FUNCTION.
    • ADULTHUMAN who is SUFFICIENTLY OLD to ESTABLISH his/her SEPARATE HOME.
      • HUMANANIMAL which HAS TWO LEGS AND LACKS FEATHERS.
        • ANIMALCREATURE ABLE to FEEL AND MOVE....
Old Chinese Criteria
1. The general word for a government minister at any level and of any kind is chén 臣, generically rén chén 人臣.

2. Zuǒ yòu 左右 refers to the senior ministers in the immediate environment of a king or duke who were able, ex officio, to speak up in court.

3. Xiàng 相 refers to the head of the group of ministers, the prime minister, also called yǐn 尹 or lìng yǐn 令尹 in the southern state of Chǔ.

4. Qīng 卿 refers to a member of the group fo senior ministers, variously defined.

The list of senior official titles in ancient China is long indeed. See Hucker and Zuo Yandong's monograph.

Modern Chinese Criteria
大官

大臣

大僚

權臣

重臣

鼎臣

宗臣

大吏

達官

當世

當軸 (obs)

大員

鼎輔

三公

三九 (obs) is short for 三公九卿

三公九卿

三朝元老

高官貴爵

達官貴人

rough draft to BEGIN TO identify synonym group members for analysis, based on CL etc. 18.11.2003. CH ／

Words

臣  chén OC: ɡjiŋ MC: dʑin 116 Attributions

The general word for a government minister at any level and of any kind is chén 臣, generically rén chén 人臣.

    Word relations
  • Epithet: 忠/FAITHFUL Zhōng 忠 refers to a selfless effort on behalf of the person to whom one takes oneself to owe loyalty, and this person may be either a ruler or a friend.
  • Epithet: 良/EXCELLENT The standard current general word for anything or anyone who naturally meets certain generally accepted high standards of excellence is liáng 良 (ant. liè 劣 "inferior").
  • Epithet: 賤/HUMBLE Jiàn 賤 (ant. 貴 "objectively of high standard, but also personally and subjectively judged to deserve this high status") typically adds to the notion of objectively judged low status that of subjectively appreciated moral decrepitude.
  • Epithet: 姦/WICKED Jiān 姦 (ant. liáng 良 "of the good sort, decent") refers to sheer human depravity and moral incompetence with no supernatural or sinister overtones.
  • Epithet: 大/GREAT Dà 大 (ant. xiǎo 小 "insignificant") is often used to refer to generally recognised awe-inspiring status (for example of a king etc) rather than mere size.
  • Epithet: 人/HUMAN The dominant term is rén 人 which refers to any human.
  • Epithet: 群/ALL Qún 群 is a quantifier which indicates that the whole of the flock or group of items designated by the noun it precedes are referred to [COLLECTIVE]; [nadN]
  • Epithet: 功/MERIT The current general word for achievements of any kind is gōng 功.
  • Epithet: 才 / 材/TALENT The standard word for an unusual promising ability to perform important future tasks of any kind is cái 才／材, and the talents referred to by this word do not need to be of a "higher" kind.
  • Epithet: 邪/WICKED Xié 邪 (ant. zhèng 正 "straight and in no way wicked") typically involves nuances of sinister evil influences in addition to plain human depravity.
  • Epithet: 謀/ADVISE The current standard word for fairly formal consultation and advice to superiors is móu 謀. [ASCENDING], [BASIC], [OFFICIAL]
  • Epithet: 事/SERVE The current general word for serving another is shì 事 (ant. shǐ 使 "deploy").
  • Epithet: 大/SENIOR
  • Contrast: 吏/OFFICIAL Lì 吏 refers to officials in charge of concrete practical matters, often policing and the like.
  • Oppos: 主/RULER The current general word for a person in charge of others are zhǔ 主 (ant. pú 僕 "servant").
  • Oppos: 君/RULER Jūn 君 (ant. chén 臣 "minister") refers specifically to someone who is politically or administratively in charge of others as a ruler.
  • Oppos: 人主/RULER
  • Oppos: 君人者/RULER

    Syntactic words
  • nservant, public servant; minister
  • n(post-N)minister of the contextually determinate superordinate person
  • n(post-N)definite: the ministers of the contextually determinate NCH
  • n(post-N){PRED}be the minister of the contextually determinate NCH
  • n[post-N]somebody's ministerCH
  • nabconceptministerhood, role of a minister
  • nadVas a loyal minister
  • nidealan ideal ministerLZ
  • nnonreferentialthe minister in general, ministers in general
  • npost-Vrestrictiveministers characterised by the feature VDS
  • n{PRED}be a servant, public servant; ministerTWH
  • viactact as a minister should
  • vichangebecome a minister
  • vt(oN)employ the contextually determinate N as a ministerCH
  • vtoNserve N as minister
  • vtoNattitudinaltreat like a minister, treat as a minister
  • vtoNcausativegain as a minister; make into a minister; take in as a servitor
相  xiàng OC: sqaŋs MC: si̯ɐŋ 93 Attributions

Xiàng 相 refers to the head of the group of ministers, the prime minister, also called yǐn 尹 or lìng yǐn 令尹 in the southern state of Chǔ.

    Word relations
  • Assoc: 將/GENERAL The general term for a senior military leader of any kind is jiàng 將, but this word normally refers to a person in charge of a given campaign, and the rank is not in Warring States times a bureaucratic permanent military to hold.

    Syntactic words
  • nchief minister or senior minister (in any country, including Chǔ 楚)
  • nab(post-N)prime ministership of the contextually determinate state of NCH
  • nabsocial受相 "accept the position of chief minister": chief ministership; position of a chief minister 
  • nadNchief minister's 相印
  • npost-Nprchief minister of N
  • npost-Nprchief minister of NprDS
  • npost-N{PLACE}chief minister of NCH
  • viactserve as prime minister
  • vichangebecome Prime Minister
  • vichangebecome a chief ministerCH
  • vt(oN)act as chief minister in NCH
  • vtoNcausativemake into a chief minister, install as chief minister
  • vtoNcausativebe made a chief minister
  • vtoNN=stateact as chief minister for (a state); become prime minister of
  • vtoNobject=rulerguide and assist (primarily as chief minister or the like)
  • vttoN1.+N2causativemake N1 prime minister in N2
人臣  rén chén OC: njin ɡjiŋ MC: ȵin dʑin 53 Attributions

    Syntactic words
  • NP(post-N)pluralhis ministersDS
  • NPab{PRED}actacting as a minister of someone elseCH
  • NPindefinitea subordinate; a minister
  • NPnonreferentialminister
  • NP{N1adN2}nonreferentiala minister; ministers (non-referential)
左右  zuǒ yòu OC: skaalʔ ɢʷɯʔ MC: tsɑ ɦɨu 50 Attributions

Zuǒ yòu 左右 refers to the senior ministers in the immediate environment of a king or duke who were able, ex officio, to speak up in court.

    Syntactic words
  • NP(post-N)the aforementioned member of (N's) close entourageCH
  • NP(post-N)pluralvaguely universal quantification: the ministers (of N), the entourage; some members of the entourage (of N)CH
  • NP(post-N)singularindefinite: a member of his senior group of advisors/ministersCH
  • NPadNin the servant-minister close entourage
  • NPpost-NpluralN's close entourageDS
  • NP{N1&N2}definitethe members of the close political entourage (of a king etc), aide; senior employees of a household
臣下  chén xià OC: ɡjiŋ ɢraaʔ MC: dʑin ɦɣɛ 45 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NPpost-Npluralthe definite subordinates of a concrete king (HSWZ)
  • NP{N1=N2}nonreferentialone's (hypothetical) subordinates, ministers of all kinds
三公  sān gōng OC: saam klooŋ MC: sɑm kuŋ 35 Attributions

    Word relations
  • Assoc: 天子/KING Tiān zǐ 天子refers to the Son of Heaven recognised as the ritual leader of all kings, and the word is currently used in a non-referential generic abstract sense.
  • Assoc: 帝/KING Dì 帝, originally "highest ancestor", is an honorary title for a king of very special distinction.

    Syntactic words
  • NPThreefold Lord; a senior Lord, an honorary official with moral duties. ranking above the feudal lords and right next to the Emperor
  • NPabthe position or status of Senior minister, or of a Threefold LordCH
  • NP{vadN}pluralthe senior Three Lords (differently defined for Zhou court　（太師、太傅、太保） and Han bureaucracy　（司馬，司空，司徒)
卿  qīng OC: khraŋ MC: khɣaŋ 26 Attributions

Qīng 卿 refers to a member of the group fo senior ministers, variously defined.

    Syntactic words
  • nsenior minister; Chief Minister; high officer 二卿
  • nabsocialposition as a senior minister
  • nnonreferentiala senior minister
  • n{PRED}be a minister
令尹  lìng yǐn OC: ɡ-reŋs k-lunʔ MC: liɛŋ jʷin 25 Attributions

ruler and minister

    Syntactic words
  • NP=Nprprime minister Npr
  • NP[post-Npr]prime minister (of Chǔ)
  • NPabsocialprime minstership
  • NPpost-NN=stateprime minister of ChuDS
  • VPtoNiussiveappoint as prime minister
忠臣  zhōng chén OC: krluŋ ɡjiŋ MC: ʈuŋ dʑin 21 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NP{PRED}be a loyal minister
  • NP{vadN}indefinitea loyal minister
  • NP{vadN}nonreferentialthe loyal ministers
大臣  dà chén OC: daads ɡjiŋ MC: dɑi dʑin 17 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NP(post-N)senior ministers of the contextually determinate rulerDS
  • NPnonreferentialsenior ministers
  • NPpluralsenior ministers
  • NPpost-Nplural其大臣 “his senior minister"CH
  • NPsingularthe senior minister
群臣  qún chén OC: ɡlun ɡjiŋ MC: gi̯un dʑin 17 Attributions

    Word relations
  • Contrast: 左右/MINISTER Zuǒ yòu 左右 refers to the senior ministers in the immediate environment of a king or duke who were able, ex officio, to speak up in court.
  • Assoc: 百姓/PEOPLE Bǎi xìng 百姓 (ant. jūn zhǔ 君主 "ruler") typically refers to the registered senior families in a state who are under the control of the ruler and contribute taxes as well as military service to him; but from earliest times this term was occasionally used to refer generally to the populace at large.
  • Assoc: 士民/PEOPLE Shì mín 士民 refers to (primarily but not only) senior registered citizens with a certain political influence; but the term can also be used collectively to refer to the freemen/gentleman shì 士 on the one hand, and the common people mín 民 on the other.
  • Oppos: 君/RULER Jūn 君 (ant. chén 臣 "minister") refers specifically to someone who is politically or administratively in charge of others as a ruler.
  • Oppos: 人主/RULER

    Syntactic words
  • NP(post-N)the various ministers
  • NP{N1adN2}nonreferentialrare: the various (hypothetical) ministers
重人  zhòng rén OC: doŋʔ njin MC: ɖi̯oŋ ȵin 11 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NPpowerful ministers/persons at court; political heavyweights
司馬  sī mǎ OC: sqlɯ mraaʔ MC: sɨ mɣɛ 10 Attributions

Sīmǎ 司馬 refers to a very senior military official in the bureaucracy of the capital of a state.

    Syntactic words
  • NP=NprMarshal Npr
  • NP{vtoN1(.adN2)}leader of the cavalry> marshal
司寇  sī kòu OC: sqlɯ khoos MC: sɨ khu 9 Attributions

Sī kòu 司寇 was a leading official in charge of punishment. The office was established already under the Three dynasties.

    Syntactic words
  • NPminister of justiceCH
  • NP=NprMinister of Justice Npr
  • NPpost-NMinister of Justice in the state NLZ
  • VP[adN]Minister of Justice
大宰  dà zǎi OC: daads tsɯɯʔ MC: dɑi tsəi 9 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NPgrand administrator, grand steward
  • NP=Nprgrand steward Npr
  • NPabsocialthe grand-stewardship
  • VPichangebecome grand steward
相國  xiàng guó OC: sqaŋs kʷɯɯɡ MC: si̯ɐŋ kək 9 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NP=Nprprime minister Npr SHIJI: 相國呂不韋
  • NPpost-N{PLACE}prime minister
  • NPtitleprime minister
司空  sī kōng OC: sqlɯ khooŋ MC: sɨ khuŋ 8 Attributions
  • A Dictionary of Official Titles in Imperial China ( HUCKER) p. # 5687

    Syntactic words
  • NPminister of works (see also 大司空 "grand minister of works")
  • NP=Nprhumanminister of works Npr
九卿  jiǔ qīng OC: kuʔ khraŋ MC: kɨu khɣaŋ 7 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NP{vadN}the Nine Ministers (See Michael Loewe, Crisis and Conflict, p. 310.
司徒  sī tú OC: sqlɯ daa MC: sɨ duo̝ 7 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NPMinister of Education
  • NP=NprMinister of Education Npr
上卿  shàng qīng OC: ɡljaŋs khraŋ MC: dʑi̯ɐŋ khɣaŋ 6 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NP(post-N)senior minister
  • VPtoNiussiveorder to become prime minister
丞相  chéng xiàng OC: ɡjɯŋ sqaŋs MC: dʑɨŋ si̯ɐŋ 6 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NPpost-Nprtitleprime minister NprDS
  • NPtitleprime minister
股肱  gǔ gōng OC: kaaʔ kʷɯɯŋ MC: kuo̝ kəŋ 6 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • nplural[THIGHS AND ARMS>] helpers
卿相  qīng xiàng OC: khraŋ sqaŋs MC: khɣaŋ si̯ɐŋ 5 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NPChief minister; First minister
  • NPgeneralthe highest officials in the stateLZ
司城  sī chéng OC: sqlɯ djeŋ MC: sɨ dʑiɛŋ 4 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NPMinister of Urban Development; minister of works
  • NP=Nprminister Npr
陪臣  péi chén OC: bɯɯ ɡjiŋ MC: buo̝i dʑin 4 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NP{vadN}subsidiary minister (typically one who comes from a state other than that he is serving in)
公卿  gōng qīng OC: klooŋ khraŋ MC: kuŋ khɣaŋ 3 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NPcollectivesenior ministers
司敗  sī bài OC: sqlɯ praads MC: sɨ pɣɛi 3 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NPMinister of Justice (same as 司寇）
太宰  tài zǎi OC: thaads tsɯɯʔ MC: thɑi tsəi 3 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NP{vadN}singularof a household: grand steward; of a state: Senior Minister in charge of the 六典, the Six Ministries, for which see ZHOULI.
正卿  zhèng qīng OC: tjeŋs khraŋ MC: tɕiɛŋ khɣaŋ 3 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NPchief minister
六卿  liù qīng OC: ɡ-ruɡ khraŋ MC: luk khɣaŋ 2 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NPdefinitethe six senior ministers
北面  běi miàn OC: pɯɯɡ mens MC: pək miɛn 2 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NPthose facing north> ministers facing north
  • VPichangebecome a minister, turn into a subjectLZ
客卿  kè qīng OC: khraaɡ khraŋ MC: khɣɛk khɣaŋ 2 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NP=NprtitleInvited Senior Minister Npr (title in Qin)
諸臣  zhū chén MC: tsyo dzyin OC: klja ɡjiŋCH 2 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NPpluralthe ministers; the senior officials at courtCH
人  rén MC: nyin OC: njinLZ 2 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • nnonreferentialking's assistant, as in 王者之人 "the true king's 'people' > closest assistants"LZ
丞  chéng OC: ɡjɯŋ MC: dʑɨŋ 1 Attribution
    Syntactic words
  • nvice head 縣丞
  • nabSHIJI: office of vice head or assistant officer 守丞 "fill office of..."
尉  wèi OC: quds MC: ʔɨi 1 Attribution
    Syntactic words
  • nminister in charge dū wèi 都尉 "minister in charge of military affairs", chief of staff
內臣  nèi chén OC: nuubs ɡjiŋ MC: nuo̝i dʑin 1 Attribution

Refers to a minister completely under one's control.

    Syntactic words
  • NPadNseving as an inner-circle minister
右尹  yòu yǐn OC: ɢʷɯʔ k-lunʔ MC: ɦɨu jʷin 1 Attribution
    Syntactic words
  • NPMinister of the Right [in the state of Chu]
吏臣  lì chén OC: rɯs ɡjiŋ MC: lɨ dʑin 1 Attribution
    Syntactic words
  • NPcourt official; minister
守臣  shǒu chén OC: qhjuʔ ɡjiŋ MC: ɕɨu dʑin 1 Attribution
    Syntactic words
  • NPpost-Ncivil servant
工正  gōng zhèng OC: kooŋ tjeŋs MC: kuŋ tɕiɛŋ 1 Attribution
    Syntactic words
  • NP(post-N)minister of works
左尹  zuǒ yǐn OC: skaalʔ k-lunʔ MC: tsɑ jʷin 1 Attribution
    Syntactic words
  • NPMinister of the Left (in the state of Chu3)
廷臣  tíng chén OC: deeŋ ɡjiŋ MC: deŋ dʑin 1 Attribution
    Syntactic words
  • NPsenior ministerial guard
御史  yù shǐ OC: ŋas srɯʔ MC: ŋi̯ɤ ʂɨ 1 Attribution
    Syntactic words
  • nminister of justice; chief prosecutor
為臣  wéi chén OC: ɢʷal ɡjiŋ MC: ɦiɛ dʑin 1 Attribution
    Syntactic words
  • NP[adN]=為臣者？
相室  xiàng shì OC: sqaŋs qhljiɡ MC: si̯ɐŋ ɕit 1 Attribution
    Syntactic words
  • VP[adN]senior minister
莫敖  mò áo OC: maaɡ ŋoow MC: mɑk ŋɑu 1 Attribution
    Syntactic words
  • NP[post-N]Mo-ao minister [of Chu3]
賢臣  xián chén OC: ɡiin ɡjiŋ MC: ɦen dʑin 1 Attribution
    Syntactic words
  • NPnonreferentialthe talented minister
卿大夫  qīng dà fū OC: khraŋ daads pa MC: khɣaŋ dɑi pi̯o 1 Attribution
    Syntactic words
  • NPdefinitethe senior ministers and dignitaries
為人臣者  wéi rén chén zhě OC: ɢʷal njin ɡjiŋ kljaʔ MC: ɦiɛ ȵin dʑin tɕɣɛ 1 Attribution
    Syntactic words
  • NPnonreferentiala minister
三孤  sān gū MC: sam ku OC: saam kʷaaCH 1 Attribution
    Syntactic words
  • NPabposition of the Minor Minister, also referred to as 少師.CH
尹  yǐn OC: k-lunʔ MC: jʷin 0 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • nprime minister (in Chǔ 楚)
令  lìng OC: ɡ-reŋs MC: liɛŋ 0 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • nhead of an administrative unit 縣令
元老  yuán lǎo OC: ŋɡon ɡ-ruuʔ MC: ŋi̯ɐn lɑu 0 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NPemperor's aide SHI
少宰  shào zǎi OC: hmljews tsɯɯʔ MC: ɕiɛu tsəi 0 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NPjunior chief minister
輔弼  fǔ bì OC: baʔ brɯd MC: bi̯o bit 0 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NP{v1&v2(.adN)}helper, aide
  Click here to add pinyin MC:  OC: CH 0 Attributions
    Syntactic words
  • NPpluralthe ministers; the senior officials at courtCH

Existing SW for

Here are Syntactic Words already defined in the database: