Definition
奴才 historically referred to a household slave or servant in imperial China. During the Qing dynasty, officials used it as a self-deprecating title when addressing the emperor, equivalent to 'your slave'. In modern Chinese, it is used figuratively as a pejorative term for a lackey or someone who behaves obsequiously.
n.
slaveservant (especially in imperial contexts, e.g., Qing dynasty)lackeytoadyservile person (figurative, derogatory)
Examples
- 奴才。Gǔdài de nú cái méiyǒu zìyóu.Slaves in ancient times had no freedom.
- 奴才，。Tā duì lǎobǎn de tàidu xiàng gè nú cái, zhēn ràng rén bù shūfu.His attitude toward the boss is like a lackey, really uncomfortable.
- ，奴才。Zài Qīngcháo, guānyuán cháng zài huángdì miànqián zìchēng nú cái.In the Qing dynasty, officials often called themselves 'slave' before the emperor.
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