大臣

dà chén

HSK 2.0 Level 6 HSK 3.0 Level 6 Noun Uncommon

Definitions

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

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Word relationships

Counterparts

1 item

部长

bù zhǎng

head of a (government etc) department

modern cabinet minister in republican systems

Related words

2 items

官员

guān yuán

official (in an organization or government)

general term for government officials

君主

jūn zhǔ

monarch

monarch, the sovereign served by 大臣

Synonyms

1 item

宰相

zǎi xiàng

prime minister (in feudal China)

historical prime minister in imperial 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

nèi gé zǒng lǐ dà chén

formal title of the Japanese prime minister

Foreign Secretary

chancellor (rank in various European states)

船政大臣

chuán zhèng dà chén

Minister of Navy during Qing times

finance minister

finance minister

minister of defense (esp. in Japan)

Child Words of 大臣

big; large; great

see 大夫[dài fu]

state official or subject in dynastic China

大臣