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" originates from and is structurally based on "史", with the addition of a horizontal stroke "一" placed above it to create a distinct graph, and it initially referred to officials involved in administrative and record-keeping functions within early Chinese governance. Its meaning narrowed over time from a general term for government officers to specifically denote lower-ranking bureaucratic clerks and managers, often carrying connotations of routine administrative duty rather than high authority, while its form has remained consistent without a traditional simplification process.
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。