Definitions
minor government official or functionary (old)
Etymology
The characters 史 (history), 吏 (government official), 使 (cause; use; instruct), and 事 (matter; work; affair) are all etymologically related and all derive from the same ancient character, depicting a hand (又) holding a container for writing utensils. 吏 and 史 were originally written the same, but later an extra mark was added to distinguish them.
About
The character 吏 is an ideogram that originally depicted a hand holding a writing brush or official document, representing a person performing administrative duties. Its structure combines a top element, a variation of 一 (yī, "one") or a marker, with a modified form of 史 (shǐ, "history/record"), which itself shows a hand holding an object. Historically, it denoted minor government officials or clerks within the bureaucratic system, rather than high-ranking ministers. The meaning centers on civil administration, record-keeping, and local law enforcement. The visual components reinforce the act of writing and handling official matters, cementing its association with bureaucratic personnel throughout historical texts.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
官吏管理百姓。
这个小吏很勤奋。
吏部负责官员选拔。
酷吏常常欺压平民。
古代吏治严格而复杂。
那位吏员正在整理档案。
吏治腐败导致王朝衰落。
通过考核才能成为合格的官吏。