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副使 (ふくし) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

副ふく使し

ふ

く

し

Meanings

1

noun

vice-envoy; deputy delegate

Official title for a deputy or assistant envoy in diplomatic or formal missions.

彼かれは遣けん唐とう使しの副ふく使しとして唐とうに渡わたった。
He went to Tang China as the vice-envoy of the Japanese mission.
会かい議ぎには大たい使しの代だい理りとして副ふく使しが出しゅっ席せきした。
The deputy delegate attended the conference on behalf of the ambassador.

Kanji

副vice-, assistant, aide
使use, send on a mission, order

Similar words

大たい使し
大使 is the ambassador or chief envoy, while 副使 is the deputy or vice-envoy.
使し節せつ
使節 is a general term for envoy or mission, whereas 副使 specifically denotes the deputy role within such a mission.

Etymology

Compound of 副 (vice-, assistant) and 使 (envoy, messenger). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word follows a common pattern for official titles.