Definitions

1. 1. lit. the yamen is strong as iron, the officials flow like water (idiom)
2. 2. fig. government officials come and go

Components

• 铁打 tiě dǎ – made of iron
• 的 de – of
• 衙门 yá men – government office in feudal China
• 流水 liú shuǐ – running water
• 官 Guān – surname Guan