官僚 guānliáo bureaucrat
bureaucrat; bureaucracy; bureaucratic
How to remember 官僚: 官 official + 僚 colleague = bureaucrat.
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How it is used
- Bureaucrat, usually derogatory - 官僚作风 (guānliáo zuòfēng) bureaucratic style, i.e. red tape and detachment from the people.
- Rarely a neutral job title; it evokes officials who care about rank and procedure over results.
- Contrast the neutral 官员 (guānyuán, official). 官僚主义 = bureaucratism, a standard target of criticism.