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爪牙

zhǎoyá
noun #19,864

Meanings

  1. 1 pawn
  2. 2 lackey
  3. 3 henchman
  4. 4 claws and teeth

Examples

他不过是老板的爪牙而已。
Tā bùguò shì lǎobǎn de zhǎoyá éryǐ.
He's nothing more than the boss's lackey.
警察逮捕了犯罪头目和他的爪牙。
Jǐngchá dàibǔ le fànzuì tóumù hé tā de zhǎoyá.
The police arrested the crime boss and his henchmen.

Tips

history
Originally 爪牙 was neutral, meaning 'claws and teeth' — a ruler's capable aides. Over time it shifted to a strongly negative connotation: minions or accomplices of an evil person.

Stroke Order

爪 zhǎo
牙 yá