极权主义 (jí quán zhǔ yì) — totalitarianism; dictatorship

Definition

A political term for a system where the state holds total power over public and private life. Pairs naturally with 政权 / 制度 in formal, academic writing.

noun
totalitarianismdictatorship

Examples

  • 极权主义。
    Rén mín fǎn duì jí quán zhǔ yì de tǒng zhì.
    The people oppose the rule of totalitarianism.
  • 极权主义。
    jí quán zhǔ yì Shì yì zhǒng jí duān de zhèng zhì zhì dù.
    Totalitarianism is an extreme political system.
  • 极权主义。
    Lì shǐ shàng chū xiàn guò xǔ duō jí quán zhǔ yì zhèng quán.
    Many totalitarian regimes have appeared in history.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

极权totalitarian power
极jíextreme权quánpower
偏正Modifier + head
主义suffix
主zhǔ义yì

极权 conveys all-reaching power, and 主义 presents it as a doctrine or system.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùtree, wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
及
及jí极jí
Same sound today

极 pairs 木 (tree, wood) with 及, which provides the sound.

Open 极 →

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 權; 权 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
雚
雚guàn權quán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 權 shows 木, a tree, with 雚 giving the sound; it named a kind of tree and was used for a standard weight. The simplified 权 is a later shorthand, not the historical shape.

Open 权 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

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 義; 义 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
我
我wǒ義yì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 義 has 我 giving the sound and 羊 meaning good or auspicious; the simplified 义 is a later abbreviation.

Open 义 →

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