khi quan

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A low-ranking official or petty mandarin: In historical contexts, "khi quan" refers to a minor bureaucrat or functionary in the royal court or imperial administration, often holding a position of little power or prestige.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trong triều đình phong kiến, khi quan thường có rất ít quyền lực. (In the feudal court, petty officials often had very little power.)
  • Ông ta chỉ là một khi quan nhỏ, không thể quyết định việc lớn. (He was just a low-ranking official, unable to make major decisions.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is archaic and primarily used in historical or literary discussions about Vietnam's feudal administrative system. It carries a connotation of insignificance within the bureaucratic hierarchy.

Variants and Related Words

• Quan lại (n): the general term for mandarins or officials in the feudal system.
• Quan chức (n): a modern term for officials or functionaries.

Synonyms

• Petty official: A minor or lower-level bureaucrat.
• Minor mandarin: A low-ranking administrative officer in a historical imperial system.
• Functionary: A person who works in an administrative capacity, often with a neutral or minor connotation.

Related Idioms