Glossary

A- (阿-): Prefix used to shorten a name for intimacy or familiarity.

Baozi (包子): Steamed leavened buns made with a variety of fillings, from sweet to savoury.

 
Da-ge (大哥): Literally Big Brother. Ge casually denotes elder brother on its own, and may also be used to informally address a slightly older man of your age group. Da-ge can carry a slight note of deference.  

Da-sao (大嫂): Sister-in-law (married to an elder brother).

-er (-儿): Suffix, usually expresses endearment, also used frequently to refer to thing in baby talk. By itself, ‘儿’ can mean ‘child’ or ‘son’, but as a suffix it frequently loses this overt meaning.

Gonggong (公公): Term of address for eunuchs, usually of high standing. Can also refer to older men.

Gongzi (公子): young master, young gentleman, a term of address usually reserved for sons of nobility.

Er-gongzi (二公子): Term of address for the second son of a noble house (Er: Two, second.)

Jin (斤): Unit of weight, roughly 500-600 grams, or 16 taels.

Lao- (老-): Prefix denoting familiarity.

Li (里): Approximately 500m depending on the time period and country in question.

San-xiaojie (三小姐): As with Er-gongzi, the term of address for the third daughter of a noble house. In most contexts within QJJ, they refer to the most well-known third daughter in Qu Capital, Lady Hua.

Shixiong (师兄): Term of address for an elder male fellow disciple, whether under the same mentor or within the same sect. Literally, elder brother of learning.

Taishang Laojun (太上老君): Literally “the Supreme Venerable Sovereign”, one of the three highest divinities of Taoism.

Xiao- (小-): Diminutive prefix; usually expresses endearment, sometimes to belittle.

Xiuchun (绣春): A Xiuchun sword is a weapon exclusively carried by the Brocade Guard. Xiu, embroidery, Chun, spring. The name of this weapon was taken from the name of a garden, whose name was taken from a poem. In actual fact, a Xiuchun sword was more likely ornamental, and was only bestowed by the Emperor upon select individuals, not necessarily even in the Brocade Guard. Xiuchun swords had a single edge and were slightly curved. Apart from that, there is no clear record of what they look like, and no surviving artifacts. However, due to popular culture, they have become intractably established as part of the accoutrements of a Brocade Guard.