君主立宪 (jūn zhǔ lì xiàn) — constitutional monarchy

Definition

A political system where a monarch remains head of state but real power is limited by a constitution. The term 君主立宪制 (jūnzhǔlìxiànzhì) names the system as a whole.

noun
constitutional monarchy

Examples

  • 君主立宪。
    Yīng guó shì yí gè jūn zhǔ lì xiàn guó jiā.
    The UK is a constitutional monarchy.
  • 君主立宪。
    jūn zhǔ lì xiàn Zài yīng guó yǒu zhe yōu jiǔ de lì shǐ.
    Constitutional monarchy has a long history in the UK.
  • 君主立宪。
    Xǔ duō ōu zhōu guó jiā shí xíng jūn zhǔ lì xiàn zhì dù.
    Many European countries practice a constitutional monarchy system.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

君主monarch
君jūnmonarch主zhǔruler/lord
联合Side by side
立宪establish a constitution
立lìestablish宪xiànconstitution/law
动宾Verb + object

“君主” is the monarch, and “立宪” is establishing or having a constitution, so the monarch operates under a constitution.

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
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
尹
尹yǐn君jūn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

君 combines 尹 and 口. Early forms were often interchangeable with 尹, and 口 may show commands or simply be decorative.

Open 君 →

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 →

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

立 pictures a person standing on the ground.

Open 立 →

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 憲; 宪 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
𡩜
𡩜𡩜憲xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 憲 pairs 心 (heart) with 𡩜, a sound component whose form depicts a punishment involving tattooing the eyes; the simplified 宪 is a later shorthand.

Open 宪 →

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