About
The character "帝" originated in early Chinese antiquity as a term representing the highest divine power or the supreme deity in the cosmos, a concept that preceded its application to human rulers. Its traditional form, which remains unchanged as it was not simplified, has a complex structure whose exact original depiction is debated, though it is often analyzed as containing elements that suggest a ritualistic or ceremonial association with the celestial realm. Over time, this abstract notion of ultimate cosmic authority was transferred to denote the highest earthly sovereigns, beginning with mythological sage-kings and later encompassing historical emperors who were seen as ruling with a mandate from heaven. This semantic shift from a purely theological concept to a political title solidified its meaning as "emperor" or "monarch", a sense it retained throughout imperial history. In modern usage, while it can still refer to historical emperors, the character also appears in compound words conveying a sense of supreme dominance or imperial qualities, such as in "帝国主义" (imperialism), reflecting a further abstraction of its core meaning of paramount authority.
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。