僕射

僕射

See also: 仆射

Chinese

		servant	radio- (chem.); shoot
trad. (僕射)		僕	射
simp. (仆射)		仆	射

Etymology

僕 (in charge of) + 射 (archery weapons)

In the beginning of the Qin Dynasty, skilled archers were highly prized, and often given positions of responsibility within the government. By the Han Dynasty, the púyè became assistants to prominant ministers (such as the Minister Steward). By the Tang Dynasty, the power of the púyè rivaled that of the Imperial Chancellor's. Subsequently, the position of púyè was phased out.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): púyè

  (Zhuyin): ㄆㄨˊ ㄧㄝˋ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): buk⁶ je⁶

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Pinyin: púyè
    • Zhuyin: ㄆㄨˊ ㄧㄝˋ
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: pwuyeh
    • IPA ^(key): /pʰu³⁵ i̯ɛ⁵¹/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
    • Jyutping: buk⁶ je⁶
    • Yale: buhk yeh
    • Cantonese Pinyin: buk⁹ je⁶
    • Guangdong Romanization: bug⁶ yé⁶
    • IPA ^(key): /pʊk̚² jɛː²²/

Noun

僕射

1. (archaic) position title: executive assistant; deputy minister (to the Minister Steward etc.)

Usage notes

The character 射 is almost always pronounced shè in Mandarin. This is one of the very few compounds where it is pronounced yè.