大臣

dà chén

CL 位 wèi 名 míng

HSK 2.0 Level 6 HSK 3.0 Level 6 Noun Uncommon

Definitions

1. chancellor (of a monarchy)
2. cabinet minister

Word relationships

Counterparts

1 item

• 部长 bù zhǎng 部长 bù zhǎng head of a (government etc) department modern cabinet minister in republican systems: head of a (government etc) department

Related words

2 items

• 官员 guān yuán 官员 guān yuán official (in an organization or government) general term for government officials: official (in an organization or government)
• 君主 jūn zhǔ 君主 jūn zhǔ monarch monarch, the sovereign served by 大臣: monarch

Synonyms

1 item

• 宰相 zǎi xiàng 宰相 zǎi xiàng prime minister (in feudal China) historical prime minister in imperial China: prime minister (in feudal China)

Usage notes

Common mistakes

Do not use 大臣 for ministers in modern non-monarchical countries; use 部长 for those positions.

Cultural notes

大臣 refers specifically to high-ranking officials in a monarchy, such as ancient China or modern kingdoms, not republican governments.

Example Sentences

1 shown

大臣 向国王提出了建议。

The minister offered advice to the king.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 大臣

• 内阁总理大臣 内阁总理大臣 nèi gé zǒng lǐ dà chén: formal title of the Japanese prime minister
• 外交大臣 外交大臣 wài jiāo dà chén: Foreign Secretary
• 掌玺大臣 掌玺大臣 zhǎng xǐ dà chén: chancellor (rank in various European states)
• 船政大臣 船政大臣 chuán zhèng dà chén: Minister of Navy during Qing times
• 财务大臣 财务大臣 cái wù dà chén: finance minister
• 财政大臣 财政大臣 cái zhèng dà chén: finance minister
• 防卫大臣 防卫大臣 fáng wèi dà chén: minister of defense (esp. in Japan)

Child Words of 大臣

• 大 大 dà: big; large; great
• 大 大 dài: see 大夫[dài fu]
• 臣 臣 chén: state official or subject in dynastic China