吏 (lì) - Official & government functionary

吏Tone 4

lì ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 口

俊梁

吏 · lì

Official;

government functionary;

bureaucrat;

clerk.

Officialgovernment functionarybureaucrat

Usage highlights

Government officialOfficial careerBureaucratic governancePetty officialOfficial rankOfficialdom

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 民— common people; civilian
  • 百姓— common people

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He works as a government official (官吏).
  • The official document was signed (吏部 document).
  • She studies ancient bureaucratic systems (吏治 systems).

Collocations

  • Government official(官吏)
  • Official career(吏途)
  • Bureaucratic governance(吏治)
  • Petty official(胥吏)
  • Official rank(吏职)
  • Officialdom(吏道)

Idioms

  • Corrupt officials(贪官污吏)
  • Able officials and good governance(能吏善治)
  • Officials and common people(官吏百姓)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In imperial China, 吏 referred to government functionaries, distinct from higher-ranking 官 (high officials).
  • 吏 were often responsible for administrative tasks and local governance implementation.
  • The term carries connotations of bureaucracy and civil service throughout Chinese history.

FAQ