MINISTER 大臣相xia4ng
A OFFICIAL who acts as as ASSISTANT to a RULER.
Old Chinese Criteria
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 /
- 論衡同義詞研究
(
LUNHENG TONGYI 2004)
p.
30 - 論衡同義詞研究
(
LUNHENG TONGYI 2004)
p.
33 - "Sachwoerterbuch zum Alten China"
(
UNGER SACH)
p.
FUERSTENDIENST
KANZLER
LING-YIN 令尹
LIU-K'ING 六卿
- 王力古漢語字典
(
WANG LI 2000)
p.
1469 郎,卿
Words
臣 chén OC: ɡjiŋ MC: dʑin 116 AttributionsWD
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 AttributionsWD
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 AttributionsWD
- 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 AttributionsWD
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.
- Word relations
- Contrast: 群臣/MINISTER
- 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 AttributionsWD
- 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 AttributionsWD
- 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 AttributionsWD
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 AttributionsWD
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 AttributionsWD
- 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 AttributionsWD
- 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 AttributionsWD
- 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 AttributionsWD
- Syntactic words
- NPpowerful ministers/persons at court; political heavyweights
司馬 sī mǎ OC: sqlɯ mraaʔ MC: sɨ mɣɛ 10 AttributionsWD
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 AttributionsWD
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 AttributionsWD
- 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 AttributionsWD
- 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 AttributionsWD
- 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 AttributionsWD
- 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 AttributionsWD
- Syntactic words
- NPMinister of Education
- NP=NprMinister of Education Npr
上卿 shàng qīng OC: ɡljaŋs khraŋ MC: dʑi̯ɐŋ khɣaŋ 6 AttributionsWD
- Syntactic words
- NP(post-N)senior minister
- VPtoNiussiveorder to become prime minister
丞相 chéng xiàng OC: ɡjɯŋ sqaŋs MC: dʑɨŋ si̯ɐŋ 6 AttributionsWD
- Syntactic words
- NPpost-Nprtitleprime minister NprDS
- NPtitleprime minister
股肱 gǔ gōng OC: kaaʔ kʷɯɯŋ MC: kuo̝ kəŋ 6 AttributionsWD
- Syntactic words
- nplural[THIGHS AND ARMS>] helpers
卿相 qīng xiàng OC: khraŋ sqaŋs MC: khɣaŋ si̯ɐŋ 5 AttributionsWD
- Syntactic words
- NPChief minister; First minister
- NPgeneralthe highest officials in the stateLZ
司城 sī chéng OC: sqlɯ djeŋ MC: sɨ dʑiɛŋ 4 AttributionsWD
- Syntactic words
- NPMinister of Urban Development; minister of works
- NP=Nprminister Npr
陪臣 péi chén OC: bɯɯ ɡjiŋ MC: buo̝i dʑin 4 AttributionsWD
- 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 AttributionsWD
- Syntactic words
- NPcollectivesenior ministers
司敗 sī bài OC: sqlɯ praads MC: sɨ pɣɛi 3 AttributionsWD
- Syntactic words
- NPMinister of Justice (same as 司寇)
太宰 tài zǎi OC: thaads tsɯɯʔ MC: thɑi tsəi 3 AttributionsWD
- 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 AttributionsWD
- Syntactic words
- NPchief minister
六卿 liù qīng OC: ɡ-ruɡ khraŋ MC: luk khɣaŋ 2 AttributionsWD
- Syntactic words
- NPdefinitethe six senior ministers
北面 běi miàn OC: pɯɯɡ mens MC: pək miɛn 2 AttributionsWD
- 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 AttributionsWD
- Syntactic words
- NP=NprtitleInvited Senior Minister Npr (title in Qin)
諸臣 zhū chén MC: tsyo dzyin OC: klja ɡjiŋCH 2 AttributionsWD
- Syntactic words
- NPpluralthe ministers; the senior officials at courtCH
人 rén MC: nyin OC: njinLZ 2 AttributionsWD
- 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 AttributionWD
- 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 AttributionWD
- 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 AttributionWD
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 AttributionWD
- Syntactic words
- NPMinister of the Right [in the state of Chu]
吏臣 lì chén OC: rɯs ɡjiŋ MC: lɨ dʑin 1 AttributionWD
- Syntactic words
- NPcourt official; minister
守臣 shǒu chén OC: qhjuʔ ɡjiŋ MC: ɕɨu dʑin 1 AttributionWD
- Syntactic words
- NPpost-Ncivil servant
工正 gōng zhèng OC: kooŋ tjeŋs MC: kuŋ tɕiɛŋ 1 AttributionWD
- Syntactic words
- NP(post-N)minister of works
左尹 zuǒ yǐn OC: skaalʔ k-lunʔ MC: tsɑ jʷin 1 AttributionWD
- Syntactic words
- NPMinister of the Left (in the state of Chu3)
廷臣 tíng chén OC: deeŋ ɡjiŋ MC: deŋ dʑin 1 AttributionWD
- Syntactic words
- NPsenior ministerial guard
御史 yù shǐ OC: ŋas srɯʔ MC: ŋi̯ɤ ʂɨ 1 AttributionWD
- Syntactic words
- nminister of justice; chief prosecutor
為臣 wéi chén OC: ɢʷal ɡjiŋ MC: ɦiɛ dʑin 1 AttributionWD
- Syntactic words
- NP[adN]=為臣者?
相室 xiàng shì OC: sqaŋs qhljiɡ MC: si̯ɐŋ ɕit 1 AttributionWD
- Syntactic words
- VP[adN]senior minister
莫敖 mò áo OC: maaɡ ŋoow MC: mɑk ŋɑu 1 AttributionWD
- Syntactic words
- NP[post-N]Mo-ao minister [of Chu3]
賢臣 xián chén OC: ɡiin ɡjiŋ MC: ɦen dʑin 1 AttributionWD
- Syntactic words
- NPnonreferentialthe talented minister
卿大夫 qīng dà fū OC: khraŋ daads pa MC: khɣaŋ dɑi pi̯o 1 AttributionWD
- 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 AttributionWD
- Syntactic words
- NPnonreferentiala minister
三孤 sān gū MC: sam ku OC: saam kʷaaCH 1 AttributionWD
- Syntactic words
- NPabposition of the Minor Minister, also referred to as 少師.CH
尹 yǐn OC: k-lunʔ MC: jʷin 0 AttributionsWD
- Syntactic words
- nprime minister (in Chǔ 楚)
令 lìng OC: ɡ-reŋs MC: liɛŋ 0 AttributionsWD
- Syntactic words
- nhead of an administrative unit 縣令
元老 yuán lǎo OC: ŋɡon ɡ-ruuʔ MC: ŋi̯ɐn lɑu 0 AttributionsWD
- Syntactic words
- NPemperor's aide SHI
少宰 shào zǎi OC: hmljews tsɯɯʔ MC: ɕiɛu tsəi 0 AttributionsWD
- Syntactic words
- NPjunior chief minister
輔弼 fǔ bì OC: baʔ brɯd MC: bi̯o bit 0 AttributionsWD
- Syntactic words
- NP{v1&v2(.adN)}helper, aide
Click here to add pinyin MC: OC: CH 0 AttributionsWD
- Syntactic words
- NPpluralthe ministers; the senior officials at courtCH
Existing SW for
Here are Syntactic Words already defined in the database:
Searching Wikidata