Japanese word

下吏

Pronunciation

Romajikari

Meaning

  • nounminor official

Example

昔の下吏は文書を整理しました。mukashi no ka ri wa bun sho o sei ri shi ma shi ta

Minor officials in the past organized documents.

Illustration for 下吏 (minor official)

More examples

地方の下吏が住民の訴えを記録しました。chi hō no ka ri ga jū min no utta e o ki roku shi ma shi ta

A local minor official recorded the residents' complaints.

Core concept

Refers to a government worker whose position is below that of senior officials and whose duties center on everyday administration.

Common phrases

  • 下吏として働くka ri to shi te hatara ku

    serve as a minor official

  • 下吏を任用するka ri o nin yō su ru

    appoint minor officials

  • 下吏を監督するka ri o kan toku su ru

    supervise minor officials

Similar words

官吏kanri: An official who carries out the administrative work of a government.
役人yakunin: A person holding a government position and performing official duties.
吏員riin: A clerical government official who handles records and other routine tasks.

Definition in Japanese

役所などで、上位の役人に仕えて日常の事務を行う、下位の役人。yaku sho na do de jō i no yaku nin ni tsuka e te nichi jō no ji mu o okona u ka i no yaku nin

Word origin

下吏 (kari) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 下 (ka, "below") and 吏 (ri, "government official"), so its form reflects a subordinate official.

Usage tips

  • Because the word belongs to formal historical vocabulary, it is more likely to occur in accounts of older government systems than in ordinary modern conversation.

Word lists with this word