Definitions
(noun)
hegemon; tyrant; lord
(verb)
to rule by force; to dominate
(adjective)
master; dominant
Etymology phono-semantic
rain
Semantic:
雨
About
The character 霸, whose traditional form is unchanged by simplification, originates from an ancient term for the cyclical lunar phases or seasonal rains, etymologically linked to concepts of expansion and authority through its components. Its structure combines the semantic radical for rain (雨) with elements suggesting sound or vibration, hinting at its initial association with potent natural forces. Over time, the meaning shifted decisively from the natural world to the human sphere, coming to denote a feudal lord who ruled by force and strategic alliances rather than inherited moral legitimacy, as seen in the term 霸王. This concept of hegemony further evolved, acquiring strongly negative connotations of tyranny and coercive dominance, encapsulated in words like 霸道, which implies autocratic and overbearing conduct. In contemporary usage, it retains this sense of oppressive power while also being employed in commercial branding to suggest market supremacy or an overpowering style, completing its semantic journey from a descriptor of natural potency to one of social and commercial force.
Example Sentences Hide
那个孩子很霸道。
他霸占了整个沙发。
历史上曾有国家争夺霸权。
他是这一带的恶霸。
项羽被称为西楚霸王。
她是全班公认的学霸。
我们必须坚决反对校园霸凌。
两家公司展开了市场争霸战。