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
史 Phonetic component
shǐ history
history, chronicle, annals
Depicts a hand holding a container for writing utensils.
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Historical Evolution
吏
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
吏
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
吏
Bronze
Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
吏
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
吏
Clerical
Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
吏
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
吏
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
吏
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
吏
Regular
Modern
Chinese
吏 [lì]
minor government official or functionary (old)
Japanese
government official; public official
Example Sentences
Japanese Names
吏 おさむ
Osamu unclassified name
吏 さとし
Satoshi unclassified name
吏 つかさ
Tsukasa female given name
吏 ふみ
Fumi female given name
CHINESE WORDS (20)
官吏 [guānlì] #45,455
bureaucrat
贪官污吏 [tānguānwūlì] #67,405
grasping officials, corrupt mandarins (idiom); abuse and corruption
贪官污吏 [tānguānwūlì] #67,405
grasping officials, corrupt mandarins (idiom); abuse and corruption
吏部 [Lìbù] #27,628
Ministry of Appointments (in imperial China)
吏治 [lìzhì] #38,590
style of governing (of minor official)
狱吏 [yùlì] #56,448
prison guard
狱吏 [yùlì] #56,448
prison guard
属吏 [shǔlì] #58,839
(old) subordinate
属吏 [shǔlì] #58,839
(old) subordinate
污吏 [wūlì] #64,068
a corrupt official
10 more
items
JAPANESE WORDS (40)
⭐ 官吏 [かんり] #21,759
government official
警吏 [けいり] #62,869
police officer
獄吏 [ごくり] #74,344
jailer
捕吏 [ほり] #79,948
constable
刑吏 [けいり] #80,885
executioner
吏員 [りいん] #88,150
official
能吏 [のうり] #92,111
able official
幕吏 [ばくり] #92,528
shogunate official
税関吏 [ぜいかんり] #114,603
customs officer
執達吏 [しったつり] #118,948
bailiff
30 more
items
KOREAN WORDS (1)