How to Write 掾 (yuàn) — Meaning “subordinate official (in ancient China)”

Imagine a subordinate official (掾) using his hand (扌) to stamp documents with an official seal (the right part 彖 looks like a seal with a handle). The seal represents his authority, and the hand shows he is working. This image links the character to its ancient role.

Write the left radical 扌 first with three strokes (horizontal, vertical hook, lift). Then write the right part 彖: start with the top left stroke, then horizontal, then the middle shape, and finish with the bottom 豕-like strokes. The right side is wider than the left, and common mistakes include mixing up the bottom of 彖 with 象 or 豕.

掾 has the right side 彖, while 挨 has 矣 (a common component meaning "already") and 挫 has 坐 (meaning "to sit"). Visually, 彖 is more complex with a top part like a pig’s snout. In usage, 掾 is rare and only refers to ancient officials, whereas 挨 means "to lean" or "to suffer" and 挫 means "to defeat" or "to twist."

掾 is almost never used in modern daily Chinese; it only appears in historical texts about ancient Chinese bureaucracy. For example, a 掾吏 was a petty clerk in a government office. Learning it is helpful for reading classical literature but not for modern conversation.

Common words containing 掾 include: 掾吏 (yuàn lì) — petty official (in ancient China); 掾属 (yuàn shǔ) — subordinate staff (in ancient China); 府掾 (fǔ yuàn) — Subordinate official in a prefecture.