微臣

wēichén

pronoun

Meanings

HSK 3

微臣不敢。

Wēichén bù gǎn.

Your humble servant dare not.

HSK 7-9

微臣有一事启奏陛下。

Wēichén yǒu yī shì qǐzòu bìxià.

Your humble servant has a matter to report to Your Majesty.

Classical / historical. You'll hear it constantly in palace dramas (宫廷剧) but never in modern speech. The literal sense is 'tiny / lowly minister.'

history

One of a whole system of self-deprecating pronouns used at court: 微臣 (officials), 奴婢 (eunuchs/maids), 儿臣 (princes addressing the emperor as parent).

微 wēi

臣 chén