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mandarin Definition

man·da·rin (man′də rin)

noun

  1. in the Chinese empire, a member of any of the nine ranks of high officials, each rank distinguished by a characteristic jeweled button worn on the cap
  2. a member of any elite group; leading intellectual, political figure, etc., sometimes one who is pompous, arbitrary, etc.
  3. the most widely spoken language of China, comprising a northern, an eastern, and a southwestern variety
    1. a small, sweet orange with loose rind
    2. the orange tree (Citrus reticulata) on which it grows
  5. a deep-orange color

Etymology: Port mandarim, altered (infl. by mandar, to command < L mandare: see mandate) < Hindi mantrī, minister of state < Sans mantrin, counselor < mantár-, thinker < IE base *men-, to think > mind, Gr mentór, Sans mantra

adjective

  1. designating or of a Chinese style of dress, esp. a narrow, closefitting, stand-up collar parted in the front
  2. characterized by a highly formal, self-conscious, and subtle use of language

mandarin Related Forms
man′·da·rin·ism′ noun
mandarin Usage Examples

Preposition: with

  • brush: What then do we write and paint, we mandarins with Chinese brush?

Converse of object

  • have: She has Mandarin as her first language and is a relative beginner in English.

Adjective modifier

  • Chinese: A Chinese mandarin is as much the tool and creature of a despotism as the humblest cultivator.
  • civil: They might be civil service mandarins, the Lord Chancellor or the Lord Chief Justice, asylum seekers, illegal immigrants or football hooligans.
  • faceless: If he has a fault he is inclined to believe the advice that he is given from faceless civil servant mandarins.
  • tinned: Jacinda was first up, cooking a magnificent breakfast of pancakes, bacon, maple syrup and tinned mandarins.
  • orange: Ralph is defined by a blend of apple leaves, soft blue musk, purple freesia, pink magnolia and zesty orange mandarin.
  • senior: He's received an " aggressive " phone call from John Gieve, a senior mandarin at the interior ministry.

Modifies a noun

  • duck: In a parallel case, the mandarin duck is also exciting interest.
  • collar: Hi £ 38.00 Neon yellow and black psychedelic 60's unworn tunic mini dress with mandarin collar As seen in HAPPY magazine August 06 issue!
  • orange: You can even put some fruit in, some raspberries or some little mandarin oranges.
  • Chinese: Mandarin Chinese will also be introduced from September 2006.
  • hotel: River time quot get onto the river water is a shanghai jc mandarin hotel.

Noun used with modifier

  • jc: River time quot get onto the river water is a shanghai jc mandarin hotel.
  • service: They might be civil service mandarins, the Lord Chancellor or the Lord Chief Justice, asylum seekers, illegal immigrants or football hooligans.
Mandarin Quotes

Tea is like the East he grows in, A great yellow Mandarin With urbanity of manner And unconsciousness of sin.

—Chesterton, G(ilbert) K(eith)

I have called this stylethe Mandarin style† It isthe style of those writers whose tendency is to make their language convey more than they mean or more than they feel, it is the style of most artists and all humbugs.

—Connolly, Cyril Vernon