官吏

guānlì

bureaucrat

HSK 7

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"官吏" refers to government officials or civil servants, especially those working in administrative roles. It is a formal term often used in historical or official contexts.

Common Contexts

This word is frequently seen in discussions about history, government structure, or bureaucracy. It emphasizes the official capacity and duties of the person.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 官吏管理 (officials managing): used when talking about administrative responsibilities.
  • 诚实官吏 (honest official): highlights personal qualities of the official.
  • 古代官吏 (ancient officials): refers to officials in historical times.

Usage Notes

"官吏" is more formal and somewhat literary compared to more general words like "公务员" (civil servant). It often appears in written texts or formal speech rather than casual conversation. Avoid confusing it with "官员," which can refer to higher-ranking officials or politicians.

Example Sentences

古代的官吏负责管理地方事务。

Gǔdài de guānlì fùzé guǎnlǐ dìfāng shìwù.

Ancient officials were responsible for managing local affairs.

现代社会中,官吏的职责更加多样化。

Xiàndài shèhuì zhōng, guānlì de zhízé gèngjiā duōyàng huà.

In modern society, the duties of officials have become more diverse.

他是一名诚实的官吏,深受百姓爱戴。

Tā shì yī míng chéngshí de guānlì, shēn shòu bǎixìng àidài.

He is an honest official, deeply loved by the people.