臣 (chén) - Minister & official

臣Tone 2

chén ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 臣

嫦晨

臣 · chén

Minister;

official;

vassal;

subject;

servant;

used historically to refer to officials serving the emperor.

Ministerofficialvassal

Usage highlights

MinisterLoyal ministerTraitorous ministerTo submit/subjugateCourt officialsSubject of a state

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 君— monarch; ruler
  • 主— master; lord

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He was a loyal minister (忠臣) to the emperor.
  • The minister knelt before the throne (臣服).
  • In ancient times, officials called themselves 'your servant' (臣) when addressing the emperor.

Collocations

  • Minister(大臣)
  • Loyal minister(忠臣)
  • Traitorous minister(奸臣)
  • To submit/subjugate(臣服)
  • Court officials(臣僚)
  • Subject of a state(臣民)

Idioms

  • To act as a minister and serve the ruler(称臣纳贡)
  • A monarch and his ministers(君君臣臣)
  • A traitorous minister and unfilial son(乱臣贼子)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In imperial China, '臣' was the standard term for officials serving the emperor.
  • It embodied the Confucian ideal of the minister's loyalty and duty to the sovereign.
  • The character itself is pictographic, originally depicting a submissive, bowing figure.

FAQ