Definitions
Etymology
Pictograph of firewood bundled together for a sacrifice. Based on the original meaning "firewood used as sacrifice", now written as 禘. Later the meaning changed to "emperor".
About
The character 帝 is now written with the elements 亠, 丷, 冖, and 巾, though these are the result of long graphic evolution from an early pictograph depicting firewood bundled for sacrifice. Its earliest meaning was "firewood used as sacrifice", a reading now carried by the character 禘, which adds the "spirit" radical 示. As centralized political systems emerged, the meaning shifted to "emperor", the supreme temporal sovereign, reflecting the character's path from ritual object to ruling title.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
皇帝穿着龙袍。
这个帝国曾经非常强大。
许多古代帝王都葬在这里。
上帝在基督教中是唯一的真神。
他是这个商业帝国的缔造者。
罗马帝国的衰落原因非常复杂。
这位导演被影迷们尊称为喜剧皇帝。
在神话传说中，天帝掌管着天地万物。
Report an issue
Flag incorrect definitions, examples, etymology, etc.