mandarin
/ˈmændərɪn/
noun
- A small, sweet citrus fruit with a loose, easy-to-peel skin, similar to an orange.
- I packed a mandarin in my lunch for a healthy snack.
- She peeled a mandarin and shared the segments with her friends.
- The mandarin is sweeter and less acidic than a regular orange.
- A high-ranking official in the former imperial Chinese civil service.
- In ancient China, becoming a mandarin required passing difficult exams.
- The mandarin wore a distinctive robe that showed his rank.
- The mandarin advised the emperor on matters of state.
- A person of great influence and authority, especially in a political or intellectual field.
- The old mandarins of the party resisted any change to the rules.
- The university's academic mandarins decided the curriculum.
- He was considered a literary mandarin, respected by writers everywhere.
Synonyms
adjective
- Relating to the Mandarin form of the Chinese language.
- He speaks Mandarin fluently after living in Beijing for five years.
- She is taking Mandarin classes at the community college.
- The Mandarin script uses characters that are different from the alphabet.
- Relating to the former imperial Chinese civil service or its officials.
- The museum has a collection of mandarin hats from the Qing dynasty.
- Mandarin robes were decorated with symbols of rank.
- The mandarin system of exams lasted for over a thousand years.