Meaning
帝国 refers to a large political entity ruled by an emperor (帝), typically encompassing multiple territories or nations under centralized imperial authority. It's commonly used in historical contexts to describe major empires like the Roman Empire or Chinese dynasties, as well as modern metaphorical uses for dominant powers.
Usage
This term is frequently used in historical and political discussions. In modern usage, it can also refer metaphorically to powerful corporations or entities with vast influence (e.g., 商业帝国 'business empire'). The term carries connotations of centralized authority, vast territory, and hierarchical power structures.
Examples
- 01罗马帝国曾经统治了大部分欧洲地区。.The Roman Empire once ruled most of Europe.
- 02他用二十年时间建立了一个商业帝国。.He spent twenty years building a business empire.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个帝国
Common collocations
- 罗马帝国Roman Empire
- 大英帝国British Empire
- 帝国主义imperialism
- 商业帝国business empire
Antonyms
Origin
The term combines 帝 (emperor) with 国 (country/state), literally meaning 'emperor's country.' It became the standard term for translating 'empire' from Western languages during the late Qing Dynasty.