称王称霸 (chēng wáng chēng bà) — to lord it over others; to act like a tyrant; domineering

Definition

A vivid chengyu for 'lording it over others like a tyrant or king.' Stronger and more literary than plain 霸道, often used to condemn domineering behavior in politics or the workplace.

idiom
to lord it over othersto act like a tyrantdomineering

Examples

  • 称王称霸，。
    Tā zài gōng sī lǐ chēng wáng chēng bà, méi rén gǎn fǎn duì tā.
    He acts domineeringly in the company; no one dares to oppose him.
  • 称王称霸，。
    Zhè ge guó jiā de lǐng dǎo zhě chēng wáng chēng bà, dǎo zhì mín yuàn fèi téng.
    The leader of this country plays the tyrant, causing widespread public resentment.
  • 称王称霸，。
    Bié zài tuán duì lǐ chēng wáng chēng bà, yào duō tīng qǔ dà jiā de yì jiàn.
    Don't lord it over the team; listen more to everyone's opinions.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

称王claim to be king
称chēngclaim王wángking
动宾Verb + object
称霸claim to be hegemon
称chēngclaim霸bàhegemon
动宾Verb + object

称王 (claim king) and 称霸 (claim hegemon) stand in parallel, meaning to lord it over others.

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 稱; 称 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hérice
Sound part声符shēngfú
爯
爯chēng稱chēng
Same sound today

The traditional form 稱 pairs 禾 (rice) with 爯, a part giving the sound; it is explained as measuring rice. The simplified 称 is a later shorthand.

Open 称 →

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 →

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 稱; 称 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hérice
Sound part声符shēngfú
爯
爯chēng稱chēng
Same sound today

The traditional form 稱 pairs 禾 (rice) with 爯, a part giving the sound; it is explained as measuring rice. The simplified 称 is a later shorthand.

Open 称 →

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

The original form paired 革 with 月 to show changes in moonlight.

Open 霸 →

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