懂中文 Dong Chinese

吏

lì

government official

The characters 史 (history), 吏 (government official), 使 (cause; use; instruct), and 事 (matter; work; affair) are all etymologically related and all derive from the same ancient character, depicting a hand (又) holding a container for writing utensils. 吏 and 史 were originally written the same, but later an extra mark was added to distinguish them.

Components
◎ distinguishing component

◎  Distinguishing component

  

characterless component

Mark added to distinguish 事 from 史.

史 sound,iconic component

史  Sound Iconic component

shǐ

  

history

Depicts a hand holding a container for writing utensils.

Evolution

吏 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
吏 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze script

Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
吏 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
吏 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
吏 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

吏  

lì

government official, magistrate; minor government official or functionary (old)

Most common words with 吏
Freq.
Word
Meaning

吏

minor government official or functionary (old)

官吏

bureaucrat

贪官污吏

grasping officials, corrupt mandarins (idiom); abuse and corruption

吏部

Ministry of Appointments (in imperial China)

吏治

achievement in office

Component uses

Sound component in 1 character (1 verified)

使

Iconic component in 1 character (1 verified)

使