臭老九

Chinese

		sense of smell; smell bad; stench sense of smell; smell bad; stench; stink; smelly; to smell (bad)	old; aged; venerable old; aged; venerable; outdated; experienced; (affectionate prefix)	nine
trad. (臭老九)		臭	老	九
simp. #(臭老九)		臭	老	九

Etymology

Derived from the social classes imposed by the ruling Mongols of the Yuan dynasty, when Confucian scholars were ranked ninth out of the ten castes, above beggars but below prostitutes.

This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term. does this actually have to do with the Yuan Dynasty or the "Nine Black Categories" during the Cultural Revolution?

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): chòulǎojiǔ

  (Zhuyin): ㄔㄡˋ ㄌㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: chòulǎojiǔ [Phonetic: chòuláojiǔ]
    • Zhuyin: ㄔㄡˋ ㄌㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄡˇ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: chòulǎojiǒu
    • Wade–Giles: chʻou⁴-lao³-chiu³
    • Yale: chòu-lǎu-jyǒu
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: chowlaojeou
    • Palladius: чоулаоцзю (čoulaoczju)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵¹ lɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Noun

臭老九

1. (derogatory) intellectual [1966–1976]