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总督 (zǒng dū) — governor-general; governor; viceroy

Definition

A senior colonial or imperial official governing a large territory or group of provinces — higher in rank than an ordinary 省长, with authority over multiple regions.

noun
governor-generalgovernorviceroy
Measure word · 位

Examples

  • 总督。
    Zhè wèi zǒng dū zài rèn qī jiān zuò le hěn duō gǎi gé.
    This governor-general implemented many reforms during his term.
  • 总督。
    Qīng cháo de zǒng dū quán lì hěn dà.
    The governors-general of the Qing dynasty had great power.
  • 总督。
    zǒng dū Fǔ wèi yú shì zhōng xīn.
    The governor's mansion is located in the city center.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

总zǒngchief
督dūsupervision

“总” means overall or chief, while “督” means supervision; together they name a chief supervisory official.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 總; 总 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìrope
Sound part声符shēngfú
悤
悤cōng總zǒng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 總 has 糸, a rope, and 悤 as a sound part; the rope part is for binding together. This account is for 總, not for 总.

Open 总 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
目目mùeye
Sound part声符shēngfú
叔
叔shū督dū
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

督 pairs 目 (eye) with 叔, which gives the sound; the shape shows looking over or overseeing with eyes.

Open 督 →
Appears in
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