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官吏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
官吏guānlìbureaucratHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #45455, Very Hard
官吏guānlìofficialHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #45455, Very Hard
guānlì(guan1li4)guan li T1
  1. 1bureaucrat
  2. 2official
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March 24, 2026

官吏guānlì(guan1li4)

The term '官吏' (guan1 li4) refers to officials or bureaucrats within the government. These individuals typically hold positions in public administration and are responsible for implementing policies and managing resources. It's commonly used in discussions about governance, politics, and public service.

Strokes14Frequency#45455DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

'官吏' reflects the Confucian value of respect for authority and the civil service tradition in China, where government officials are seen as essential for maintaining social order and stability. The historical significance of bureaucratic roles can be traced back to the imperial examination system.

Memory tip

Imagine a '官' (guan) as a grand official in a palace, dressed in traditional robes, while '吏' (li) resembles a busy clerk jotting down notes. Picture this official overseeing the clerk's work, ensuring everything runs smoothly, which helps you remember that '官吏' are bureaucrats managing public affairs.

Meanings of 官吏

guānlì(guan1li4)
1bureaucrat
2official
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About 官吏

官吏Simplified
14Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 官吏

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AI study notes for 官吏

Quick Contrast

官员 (guānyuán) - use '官吏' for a focus on bureaucratic roles within government, while '官员' is broader and may include elected officials.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse '官吏' with more casual terms like '工作人员' (gongzuo renyuan), which means staff or workers. '官吏' is more formal and specifically relates to government officials. Be mindful of using the correct context when discussing politics or public administration.

HSK Study Tips

While '官吏' is not a specific HSK vocabulary word, it connects to themes in HSK Level 4, such as government and society. Focus on understanding related vocabulary like '政府' (zhengfu - government) and '政策' (zhengce - policy) to enhance your comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse '官吏' with '官员' (guanyuan), which also means official but can refer to higher-ranking officials. Using '官吏' in contexts where '官员' is more appropriate can sound awkward.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 官吏

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Component characters

官guānofficial
HSK 68 strokes宀
View full entry
吏lìgovernment official, magistrate
6 strokes口
View full entry

How to say bureaucrat in Chinese

“bureaucrat” in Chinese is官吏guānlì

The term '官吏' (guan1 li4) refers to officials or bureaucrats within the government. These individuals typically hold positions in public administration and are responsible for implementing policies and managing resources. It's commonly used in discussions about governance, politics, and public service.

When to use 官吏

Learners often confuse '官吏' with more casual terms like '工作人员' (gongzuo renyuan), which means staff or workers. '官吏' is more formal and specifically relates to government officials. Be mindful of using the correct context when discussing politics or public administration.

官吏 or something close to it

官员 (guānyuán) - use '官吏' for a focus on bureaucratic roles within government, while '官员' is broader and may include elected officials.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse '官吏' with '官员' (guanyuan), which also means official but can refer to higher-ranking officials. Using '官吏' in contexts where '官员' is more appropriate can sound awkward.

Write 官吏

官
吏

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Frequently asked questions about 官吏

'公务员' (gongwuyuan) specifically refers to civil servants, while '官吏' has a broader meaning that can include various types of government officials.

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