| Change log entry 96734 | |
|---|---|
| Processed by: | richwarm (2026-07-23 22:48:10 UTC) |
| Comment: |
<< review queue entry 88545 - submitted by 'agedits' >> just added because I think the word "henchmen" is such a good fit for this gloss, and I think it might become a trending word, one of these days… -------------------- Editor: Actually, I previously *removed* "henchman". https://cc-cedict.org/editor/editor.php?log_id=78584&return=ListChanges&handler=ViewLogEntry After reviewing more examples of usage, I would now go a step further and remove the note "(often pejorative)". I don't think 亲信 is inherently pejorative. LA, for example, defines it simply as 親近而信任的人, with no suggestion of a negative connotation. Rather, it is often the *context* that is negative. This distinguishes 亲信 from terms such as 爪牙, 狗腿子, and 黨羽, which are inherently derogatory. 亲信 behaves much like English "trusted aide" or "close associate": > If the context is corruption, the aide happens to be corrupt. > If the article is about a historical figure, the person is simply a trusted aide. We should aim to capture the lexical meaning of the headword, rather than list English words that happen to fit some contexts. In any case, "henchman" is only rarely an appropriate translation of 亲信. For example: 以色列国家检察官办公室近日发表声明说，总理内塔尼亚胡的多名亲信和以色列国防部官员因在德国潜艇采购案中涉嫌贪腐将被起诉。 This refers to some of Netanyahu's close associates being charged with corruption. The allegations are negative, but, just like the English expression "close associates", 亲信 itself is not. 美国白宫宣布对8名普京亲信及其家人实施制裁。 "The White House has announced sanctions against eight of Putin's close associates and their families." Again, there is no need to reach for "henchmen"; the fact that they are being sanctioned already provides the negative context. By contrast, in the following examples, 亲信 simply indicates that the person was trusted by the leader: > 朱光沐原来是张学良的贴身亲信，后来做了宋子文的秘书。 > 「這個實驗，曾被高層寄予發展核武、反攻大陸的使命，卻不明說。但從接收後臺大首任物理系主任的背景是浙江奉化人、即老蔣親信，可見有多敏感，」退休後喜歡研究歷史的陳海德，向訪客如此分析。 |
| Diff: |
- 親信 亲信 [[qin1xin4]] /(often pejorative) trusted aide; confidant/to put one's trust in (sb)/ # + 親信 亲信 [[qin1xin4]] /(often pejorative) trusted aide; confidant; henchman/to put one's trust in (sb)/ + 親信 亲信 [[qin1xin4]] /trusted aide; close associate; confidant/to put one's trust in (sb)/ |