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主宰 (zhǔ zǎi) — (verb) to dominate, to rule, to dictate; (noun) master, controller

Definition

主宰 (zhǔzǎi) means absolute, often unseen control over something (fate, nature, life) — stronger and more literary than 主导 ('to lead/drive'), and broader than 统治 ('to rule' a polity).

verb
to dominateto ruleto dictate
noun
mastercontroller

Examples

  • 主宰。
    Mìng yùn zhǔ zǎi zhe měi gè rén de yì shēng.
    Fate dominates everyone's life.
  • 主宰。
    Tā shì zhè ge xiàng mù de zhēn zhèng zhǔ zǎi.
    He is the true master of this project.
  • 主宰。
    Méi yǒu rén néng zhǔ zǎi zì rán de lì liàng.
    No one can dominate the power of nature.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

主zhǔrule
宰zǎigovern

主 and 宰 both carry the idea of ruling, together meaning to dominate or a master.

Characters in this word

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 宀宀miánhouse
  • 乂乂yìto govern

The lower part of 宰 comes from 乂, 'to govern'; with 宀, 'house', it makes a house of government.

Open 宰 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9ManagementGovernment & Politics

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