Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 奴才 | núcái |
| 奴仆 | núpú |
The term is used to describe a loyal servant of another more powerful being.
Which one should you use?
奴才 often carries a derogatory or historical connotation of a lowly servant, whereas 奴仆 is a more neutral, literary term used for a servant or household slave.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
随从 and 仆从 are formal terms used to mean a follower, attendant or servant. 爪牙 is a formal term used to describe someone who carries out dirty work for another person. 奴才 is often used in an informal or derogatory way to imply a subservient or lowly status. In a completely different informal context, 小黄人 literally means "small yellow people."
How do you pronounce it?
núcái
When do people say it?
In historical Chinese contexts, specifically during the Qing Dynasty, 奴才 was the specific term used by certain officials and servants to refer to themselves when addressing the Emperor.
Did you know?
- The term 爪牙 is used to describe a minion, but it literally translates to 'claws and teeth'. It is used metaphorically to describe a person who acts as the aggressive or violent instrument of a powerful figure.
- In some contexts, 奴才 can be used ironically between close friends to mimic the exaggerated humility of old court dramas.
- In the Qing Dynasty, even high-ranking officials used the term 奴才 to refer to themselves when speaking to the Emperor. This transformed a word for a lowly servant into a formal term of absolute submission used by the elite.
Examples in context
- Yes, those 小黄人 (xiǎo huáng rén) have become a global sensation.Yes, those small yellow people have become a global sensation.
- 他只是一个卑微的奴才。Tā zhǐshì yīgè bēiwēi de núcai.He is just a lowly minion.
- 他甘愿做权贵的奴才。Tā gānyuàn zuò quánguì de núcai.He is willing to be a minion to the powerful.
- 你别把我也当成你的奴才。Nǐ bié bǎ wǒ yě dāngchéng nǐ de núcai.Don't treat me like your minion too.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a character in a historical drama.
- 浩然 Haoran那个角色真是个唯命是从的奴才。Nàgè juésè zhēnshì gè wéimìngshìcóng de núcai.That character is truly a minion who obeys every command.
- 佳怡 Jiayi虽然他是奴才，但他很忠诚。Suīrán tā shì núcai, dàn tā hěn zhōngchéng.Even though he is a minion, he is very loyal.
- 浩然 Haoran可是这种生活太辛苦了。Kěshì zhèzhǒng shēnghuó tài xīnkǔ le.But this kind of life is too hard.
- 佳怡 Jiayi确实，浩然，你觉得呢？Quèshí, Hàorán, nǐ juédé ne?Indeed, Haoran, what do you think?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “minion” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
