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. 9 Attributions
• 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"). 2 Attributions
• 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. 2 Attributions
• 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. 10 Attributions
• 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. 3 Attributions
• Epithet: 人/HUMAN The dominant term is rén 人 which refers to any human. 15 Attributions
• 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] 19 Attributions
• 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. 1 Attribution
• 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. 1 Attribution
• Epithet: 謀/ADVISE The current standard word for fairly formal consultation and advice to superiors is móu 謀. [ASCENDING], [BASIC], [OFFICIAL] 4 Attributions
• Epithet: 事/SERVE The current general word for serving another is shì 事 (ant. shǐ 使 "deploy"). 1 Attribution
• Epithet: 大/SENIOR1 Attribution
• 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. 8 Attributions
• Oppos: 人主/RULER2 Attributions
• Oppos: 君人者/RULER1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• nservant, public servant; minister30 Attributions
• n(post-N)minister of the contextually determinate superordinate person16 Attributions
• n(post-N)definite: the ministers of the contextually determinate NCH3 Attributions
• n(post-N){PRED}be the minister of the contextually determinate NCH3 Attributions
• n[post-N]somebody's ministerCH2 Attributions
• nabconceptministerhood, role of a minister
• nadVas a loyal minister7 Attributions
• nidealan ideal ministerLZ1 Attribution
• nnonreferentialthe minister in general, ministers in general20 Attributions
• npost-Vrestrictiveministers characterised by the feature VDS1 Attribution
• n{PRED}be a servant, public servant; ministerTWH10 Attributions
• viactact as a minister should11 Attributions
• vichangebecome a minister1 Attribution
• vt(oN)employ the contextually determinate N as a ministerCH1 Attribution
• vtoNserve N as minister2 Attributions
• vtoNattitudinaltreat like a minister, treat as a minister
• vtoNcausativegain as a minister; make into a minister; take in as a servitor8 Attributions

相  xiàng OC: sqaŋs MC: si̯ɐŋ 98 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)37 Attributions
• nab(post-N)prime ministership of the contextually determinate state of NCH1 Attribution
• nabsocial受相 "accept the position of chief minister": chief ministership; position of a chief minister 4 Attributions
• nadNchief minister's 相印
• npost-Nprchief minister of N1 Attribution
• npost-Nprchief minister of NprDS1 Attribution
• npost-N{PLACE}chief minister of NCH3 Attributions
• viactserve as prime minister5 Attributions
• vichangebecome Prime Minister3 Attributions
• vichangebecome a chief ministerCH1 Attribution
• vt(oN)act as chief minister in NCH1 Attribution
• vtoNcausativemake into a chief minister, install as chief minister11 Attributions
• vtoNcausativebe made a chief minister
• vtoNN=stateact as chief minister for (a state); become prime minister of20 Attributions
• vtoNobject=rulerguide and assist (primarily as chief minister or the like)9 Attributions
• vttoN1.+N2causativemake N1 prime minister in N21 Attribution

人臣  rén chén OC: njin ɡjiŋ MC: ȵin dʑin 57 Attributions

Word relations
• Ant: 人主/RULER1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• NP(post-N)pluralhis ministersDS1 Attribution
• NPab{PRED}actacting as a minister of someone elseCH1 Attribution
• NPindefinitea subordinate; a minister5 Attributions
• NPnonreferentialminister9 Attributions
• NP{N1adN2}nonreferentiala minister; ministers (non-referential)41 Attributions

臣下  chén xià OC: ɡjiŋ ɢraaʔ MC: dʑin ɦɣɛ 53 Attributions

Syntactic words
• NPpost-Npluralthe definite subordinates of a concrete king (HSWZ)4 Attributions
• NP{N1=N2}nonreferentialone's (hypothetical) subordinates, ministers of all kinds49 Attributions

左右  zuǒ yòu OC: skaalʔ ɢʷɯʔ MC: tsɑ ɦɨu 51 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.

Word relations
• Contrast: 群臣/MINISTER1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• NP(post-N)the aforementioned member of (N's) close entourageCH6 Attributions
• NP(post-N)pluralvaguely universal quantification: the ministers (of N), the entourage; some members of the entourage (of N)CH7 Attributions
• NP(post-N)singularindefinite: a member of his senior group of advisors/ministersCH7 Attributions
• NPadNin the servant-minister close entourage1 Attribution
• NPpost-NpluralN's close entourageDS1 Attribution
• NP{N1&N2}definitethe members of the close political entourage (of a king etc), aide; senior employees of a household29 Attributions

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. 1 Attribution
• Assoc: 帝/KING Dì 帝, originally "highest ancestor", is an honorary title for a king of very special distinction. 1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• NPThreefold Lord; a senior Lord, an honorary official with moral duties. ranking above the feudal lords and right next to the Emperor16 Attributions
• NPabthe position or status of Senior minister, or of a Threefold LordCH6 Attributions
• 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)13 Attributions

卿  qīng OC: khraŋ MC: khɣaŋ 26 Attributions

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

Word relations
• Epithet: 六/SIX1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• nsenior minister; Chief Minister; high officer 二卿15 Attributions
• nabsocialposition as a senior minister3 Attributions
• nnonreferentiala senior minister7 Attributions
• n{PRED}be a minister1 Attribution

令尹  lìng yǐn OC: ɡ-reŋs k-lunʔ MC: liɛŋ jʷin 25 Attributions

ruler and minister

Syntactic words
• NP=Nprprime minister Npr5 Attributions
• NP[post-Npr]prime minister (of Chǔ)14 Attributions
• NPabsocialprime minstership2 Attributions
• NPpost-NN=stateprime minister of ChuDS3 Attributions
• VPtoNiussiveappoint as prime minister1 Attribution

忠臣  zhōng chén OC: krluŋ ɡjiŋ MC: ʈuŋ dʑin 21 Attributions

Syntactic words
• NP{PRED}be a loyal minister
• NP{vadN}indefinitea loyal minister1 Attribution
• NP{vadN}nonreferentialthe loyal ministers20 Attributions

群臣  qún chén OC: ɡlun ɡjiŋ MC: gi̯un dʑin 20 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. 1 Attribution
• 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. 4 Attributions
• 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. 1 Attribution
• 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. 1 Attribution
• Oppos: 人主/RULER2 Attributions

Syntactic words
• NP(post-N)the various ministers13 Attributions
• NP{N1adN2}nonreferentialrare: the various (hypothetical) ministers7 Attributions

大臣  dà chén OC: daads ɡjiŋ MC: dɑi dʑin 17 Attributions

Syntactic words
• NP(post-N)senior ministers of the contextually determinate rulerDS1 Attribution
• NPnonreferentialsenior ministers3 Attributions
• NPpluralsenior ministers8 Attributions
• NPpost-Nplural其大臣 “his senior minister"CH1 Attribution
• NPsingularthe senior minister4 Attributions

重人  zhòng rén OC: doŋʔ njin MC: ɖi̯oŋ ȵin 11 Attributions

Syntactic words
• NPpowerful ministers/persons at court; political heavyweights11 Attributions

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 Npr1 Attribution
• NP{vtoN1(.adN2)}leader of the cavalry> marshal9 Attributions

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 justiceCH1 Attribution
• NP=NprMinister of Justice Npr1 Attribution
• NPpost-NMinister of Justice in the state NLZ1 Attribution
• VP[adN]Minister of Justice6 Attributions

大宰  dà zǎi OC: daads tsɯɯʔ MC: dɑi tsəi 9 Attributions

Syntactic words
• NPgrand administrator, grand steward6 Attributions
• NP=Nprgrand steward Npr1 Attribution
• NPabsocialthe grand-stewardship1 Attribution
• VPichangebecome grand steward1 Attribution

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 minister2 Attributions
• NPtitleprime minister7 Attributions

司空  sī kōng OC: sqlɯ khooŋ MC: sɨ khuŋ 8 Attributions

Syntactic words
• NPminister of works (see also 大司空 "grand minister of works")5 Attributions
• NP=Nprhumanminister of works Npr3 Attributions

司徒  sī tú OC: sqlɯ daa MC: sɨ duo̝ 7 Attributions

Syntactic words
• NPMinister of Education5 Attributions
• NP=NprMinister of Education Npr2 Attributions

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. 310.7 Attributions

股肱  gǔ gōng OC: kaaʔ kʷɯɯŋ MC: kuo̝ kəŋ 6 Attributions

Syntactic words
• nplural[THIGHS AND ARMS>] helpers6 Attributions

上卿  shàng qīng OC: ɡljaŋs khraŋ MC: dʑi̯ɐŋ khɣaŋ 6 Attributions

Syntactic words
• NP(post-N)senior minister5 Attributions
• VPtoNiussiveorder to become prime minister1 Attribution

丞相  chéng xiàng OC: ɡjɯŋ sqaŋs MC: dʑɨŋ si̯ɐŋ 6 Attributions

Syntactic words
• NPpost-Nprtitleprime minister NprDS1 Attribution
• NPtitleprime minister5 Attributions

卿相  qīng xiàng OC: khraŋ sqaŋs MC: khɣaŋ si̯ɐŋ 5 Attributions

Syntactic words
• NPChief minister; First minister3 Attributions
• NPgeneralthe highest officials in the stateLZ2 Attributions

司城  sī chéng OC: sqlɯ djeŋ MC: sɨ dʑiɛŋ 4 Attributions

Syntactic words
• NPMinister of Urban Development; minister of works3 Attributions
• NP=Nprminister Npr1 Attribution

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)4 Attributions

司敗  sī bài OC: sqlɯ praads MC: sɨ pɣɛi 3 Attributions

Syntactic words
• NPMinister of Justice (same as 司寇）3 Attributions

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.3 Attributions

公卿  gōng qīng OC: klooŋ khraŋ MC: kuŋ khɣaŋ 3 Attributions

Syntactic words
• NPcollectivesenior ministers3 Attributions

正卿  zhèng qīng OC: tjeŋs khraŋ MC: tɕiɛŋ khɣaŋ 3 Attributions

Syntactic words
• NPchief minister3 Attributions

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 subjectLZ2 Attributions

六卿  liù qīng OC: ɡ-ruɡ khraŋ MC: luk khɣaŋ 2 Attributions

Syntactic words
• NPdefinitethe six senior ministers2 Attributions

人  rén MC: nyin OC: njin 2 Attributions

Syntactic words
• nnonreferentialking's assistant, as in 王者之人 "the true king's 'people' > closest assistants"LZ2 Attributions

諸臣  zhū chén MC: tsyo dzyin OC: klja ɡjiŋ 2 Attributions

Syntactic words
• NPpluralthe ministers; the senior officials at courtCH2 Attributions

客卿  kè qīng OC: khraaɡ khraŋ MC: khɣɛk khɣaŋ 2 Attributions

Syntactic words
• NP=NprtitleInvited Senior Minister Npr (title in Qin)2 Attributions

廷臣  tíng chén OC: deeŋ ɡjiŋ MC: deŋ dʑin 1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• NPsenior ministerial guard1 Attribution

右尹  yòu yǐn OC: ɢʷɯʔ k-lunʔ MC: ɦɨu jʷin 1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• NPMinister of the Right [in the state of Chu]1 Attribution

賢臣  xián chén OC: ɡiin ɡjiŋ MC: ɦen dʑin 1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• NPnonreferentialthe talented minister1 Attribution

卿大夫  qīng dà fū OC: khraŋ daads pa MC: khɣaŋ dɑi pi̯o 1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• NPdefinitethe senior ministers and dignitaries1 Attribution

守臣  shǒu chén OC: qhjuʔ ɡjiŋ MC: ɕɨu dʑin 1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• NPpost-Ncivil servant1 Attribution

為臣  wéi chén OC: ɢʷal ɡjiŋ MC: ɦiɛ dʑin 1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• NP[adN]=為臣者？1 Attribution

吏臣  lì chén OC: rɯs ɡjiŋ MC: lɨ dʑin 1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• NPcourt official; minister1 Attribution

左尹  zuǒ yǐn OC: skaalʔ k-lunʔ MC: tsɑ jʷin 1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• NPMinister of the Left (in the state of Chu3)1 Attribution

相室  xiàng shì OC: sqaŋs qhljiɡ MC: si̯ɐŋ ɕit 1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• VP[adN]senior minister1 Attribution

工正  gōng zhèng OC: kooŋ tjeŋs MC: kuŋ tɕiɛŋ 1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• NP(post-N)minister of works1 Attribution

丞  chéng OC: ɡjɯŋ MC: dʑɨŋ 1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• nvice head 縣丞1 Attribution
• nabSHIJI: office of vice head or assistant officer 守丞 "fill office of..."

三孤  sān gū MC: sam ku OC: saam kʷaa 1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• NPabposition of the Minor Minister, also referred to as 少師.CH1 Attribution

莫敖  mò áo OC: maaɡ ŋoow MC: mɑk ŋɑu 1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• NP[post-N]Mo-ao minister [of Chu3]1 Attribution

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 staff1 Attribution

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 minister1 Attribution

御史  yù shǐ OC: ŋas srɯʔ MC: ŋi̯ɤ ʂɨ 1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• nminister of justice; chief prosecutor1 Attribution

為人臣者  wéi rén chén zhě OC: ɢʷal njin ɡjiŋ kljaʔ MC: ɦiɛ ȵin dʑin tɕɣɛ 1 Attribution

Syntactic words
• NPnonreferentiala minister1 Attribution

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

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

尹  yǐn OC: k-lunʔ MC: jʷin 0 Attributions

Syntactic words
• nprime minister (in Chǔ 楚)

  Click here to add pinyin MC:  OC: 0 Attributions

Syntactic words
• NPpluralthe ministers; the senior officials at courtCH