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摄政王 (shè zhèng wáng) — prince regent

Definition

A prince regent is a royal family member who governs on behalf of a monarch who is absent, underage, or unfit to rule. The title combines 摄 (act as regent) with 王 (prince/royal).

noun
prince regent
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 摄政王，。
    Zhè wèi shè zhèng wáng shì huáng dì de shū shu, zài tā nián yòu shí dài lǐ cháo zhèng.
    This prince regent was the emperor's uncle, acting as regent when the emperor was young.
  • 摄政王，。
    Lì shǐ shàng yǒu hěn duō shè zhèng wáng de gù shi, tā men wǎng wǎng zhǎng wò dà quán.
    In history, there are many stories of prince regents; they often held great power.
  • 摄政王。
    Zhè wèi shè zhèng wáng zài wèi qī jiān tuī xíng le xǔ duō gǎi gé.
    This prince regent carried out many reforms during his regency.

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.

摄政administer government
摄shètake charge政zhènggovernment
动宾Verb + object
王wángking

摄政 means administering government, and 王 is a royal person, together 'prince regent'.

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 攝; 摄 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
聶
聶niè攝shè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 攝 combines 扌 (hand) with 聶 as a sound part; the simplified 摄 is a later shorthand.

Open 摄 →

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
攴攴pūaction
Sound part声符shēngfú
正
正zhèng政zhèng
Same sound today

政 combines 正, which gives the sound, with 攴, an action-related part.

Open 政 →

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

The shape of 王 comes from a picture of a ritual axe, an object kept near a throne and connected with royal power.

Open 王 →
Appears in
Government & Politics

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