Definition
乡绅 (xiāng shēn) refers to a historical social class in traditional China — educated landowners with official titles or degrees who held local influence and often mediated between the government and the village. It's partially comparable to English 'country gentleman' or 'squire', but the Chinese term specifically implies Confucian literati status, local governance duties, and moral authority in the community. The term is mostly used in historical or literary contexts today.
n.
(historical) local gentryrural literati-landowner class with social and political influence
Examples
- 乡绅，。Zhè wèi xiāng shēn zài cūn lǐ hěn yǒu wēiwàng, dàjiā dōu tīng tā de.This local gentleman had great prestige in the village, and everyone listened to him.
- 乡绅，。Qīngcháo de xiāng shēn bùjǐn yào guǎnlǐ zúchǎn, hái yào tiáojiě línlǐ jiūfēn.The gentry of the Qing dynasty not only managed clan property but also mediated neighborhood disputes.
- 乡绅，。Xiǎoshuō zhōng miáoxiě le yí wèi lèshànhàoshī de xiāng shēn, shēn shòu cūnmín àidài.The novel depicts a benevolent local gentleman who is deeply loved by the villagers.
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