清官

qīngguān

noun #50,447

Meanings

1 honest and upright official
2 incorruptible official

Characters

Examples

HSK 5

海瑞是明朝有名的清官，去世时家里几乎什么都没有留下。

Hǎi Ruì shì Míngcháo yǒumíng de qīngguān, qùshì shí jiālǐ jīhū shénme dōu méiyǒu liúxià.

Hai Rui was a famous upright official of the Ming dynasty, and when he died he left almost nothing at home.

HSK 7-9

老百姓都盼着能遇到一个清官。

Lǎobǎixìng dōu pàn zhe néng yùdào yí ge qīngguān.

Ordinary people all hoped to come across an honest official.

Tips

culture

The 清官 is a stock hero of folk opera and stories, the judge or magistrate who cannot be bought, above all 包拯 and 海瑞. The opposite is 贪官. The saying 清官难断家务事 'even an upright judge cannot settle a family quarrel' means outsiders should keep out of family disputes.

Stroke Order

清 qīng

官 guān