chén

state official or subject in dynastic China

surname Chen; I, your servant (used in addressing the sovereign); Kangxi radical 131

container (匚) + strokes (丨丨) = official bowing within bounds

The character 臣 originally depicted a wide-open eye turned sideways — the eye of a subject averting or lowering their gaze before a ruler. The components here frame that visual: strokes held within a containing shape, suggesting a figure constrained within their station.

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A vertical strokeSemantic
A containerSemantic

那位子每天都要向皇帝汇报。

nà wèi chén zǐ měi tiān dōu yào xiàng huáng dì huì bào。

That official had to report to the emperor every day.

以为此事需要再仔细考虑。

chén yǐ wéi cǐ shì xū yào zài zǐ xì kǎo lǜ。

I, your servant, believe this matter needs to be considered more carefully.

Words with 臣

臣一主二

chén yī zhǔ èr

One has the right to choose the ruler one serves. (ancient proverb)

臣下

chén xià

official in feudal court

臣仆

chén pú

servant

臣僚

chén liáo

court official (in former times)

臣妾

chén qiè

(literary) I, your servant (self-appellation of a lower-rank female)

臣子

chén zǐ

official in feudal court

臣属

chén shǔ

official in feudal court

臣服

chén fú

to acknowledge allegiance to (some regime)

臣民

chén mín

subject (of a kingdom, ruler etc)

臣虏

chén lǔ

slave

重臣

zhòng chén

important minister

开国功臣

kāi guó gōng chén

outstanding founding minister (title given to reward loyal general or vassal of new dynasty or state)

More characters with 匚