衙 (yá) - Yamen — an official government office or administrative & also refers to a procession or retinue.

衙Tone 2

yá ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

信嫣

衙 · yá

Yamen — an official government office or administrative headquarters in imperial China;

also refers to a procession or retinue.

Yamen — an official government office or administrativealso refers to a procession or retinue.

Usage highlights

YamenYamen runnerGovernment officeInside the yamenYamen gateOfficial procession

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 民— common people (as opposed to officialdom)
  • 私— private (as opposed to official)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The magistrate worked at the yamen (衙门).
  • The imperial procession was grand (衙役).
  • He served in a government office (衙署).
  • The official seal was kept in the yamen (衙内).

Collocations

  • Yamen(衙门)
  • Yamen runner(衙役)
  • Government office(衙署)
  • Inside the yamen(衙内)
  • Yamen gate(衙门口)
  • Official procession(衙兵)

Idioms

  • Clear the streets for officials(清街肃衙)
  • Yamen deep as the sea(衙门深似海)
  • Official yamen facing south(衙门口朝南开)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Yamen was the administrative center in imperial China where magistrates conducted official business.
  • The term often evokes images of bureaucracy, authority, and sometimes corruption in historical contexts.
  • Yamen architecture typically followed strict Confucian principles with main halls and courtyards.

FAQ