臣民

chénmín

noun #20,167

Meanings

1 subject (of a kingdom or ruler)
2 subjects of a monarch

Characters

minister, subject, vassal

people, civilian

Examples

皇帝对他的臣民施行仁政。

Huángdì duì tā de chénmín shīxíng rénzhèng.

The emperor governed his subjects with benevolence.

封建社会中，臣民必须绝对服从君主。

Fēngjiàn shèhuì zhōng, chénmín bìxū juéduì fúcóng jūnzhǔ.

In feudal society, subjects had to obey the monarch absolutely.

Tips

history

臣民 combines 臣 (chén, minister/official/subject) and 民 (mín, people/commoner). In imperial China, all people were 臣民 of the emperor, but 臣 referred specifically to officials while 民 referred to commoners.

Stroke Order

臣 chén

民 mín