农奴
How to Understand
农奴 refers to a person who was bound to the land and subject to the control of a lord or master, typically in historical contexts such as feudal systems. It is often associated with the social structure in Tibet before the 1950s, where individuals were legally considered property of the ruling class.
The character 农 (nóng) means 'agricultural' or 'farmer,' and 奴 (nú) means 'slave' or 'servant.' Together, they form a term that describes someone who worked the land under forced or restricted conditions.
Historically, 农奴 were not free to leave their land or choose their occupation. Today, the term is used mainly in historical discussions or to describe past social systems. Understanding this term helps learners grasp the complexity of traditional Chinese social hierarchies and the changes brought by modernization.