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

HSK 5

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.

HSK 6

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