嫡系

díxì

noun #35,171

Meanings

1 direct line of descent
2 one's own faction or inner circle
3 loyal followers under direct command

Characters

born of the principal wife; legitimate

Examples

他是老板的嫡系，升得最快。

Tā shì lǎobǎn de díxì, shēng de zuì kuài.

He's part of the boss's inner circle and gets promoted the fastest.

这支部队是蒋介石的嫡系。

Zhè zhī bùduì shì Jiǎng Jièshí de díxì.

This army unit was Chiang Kai-shek's personally loyal force.

Tips

history

嫡 originally meant 'born of the principal wife' (as opposed to a concubine's child), making 嫡系 'the legitimate main line of descent'. By extension, in modern politics and offices it means a leader's direct loyalists — the inside crew, contrasted with 旁系 (collateral line / outsiders).

Stroke Order

嫡 dí

系 xì