Japanese word

専制

Pronunciation

Romajisensei

Meaning

  • noundespotism

Example

専制では自由が制限されています。sen sei de wa ji yū ga sei gen sa re te i ma su

Under despotism, freedom is restricted.

Illustration for 専制 (despotism)

More examples

その国では専制が終わり、新しい制度が始まりました。so no kuni de wa sen sei ga o wa ri atara shi i sei do ga haji ma ri ma shi ta

In that country, despotism ended and a new system began.

Core concept

Refers to government controlled by a single authority whose power is not meaningfully limited and whose decisions restrict public freedom.

Common phrases

  • 専制下で暮らすsen sei shita de ku ra su

    live under despotism

  • 専制を強めるsen sei o tsuyo me ru

    strengthen autocratic rule

  • 専制から解放されるsen sei ka ra kai hō sa re ru

    be freed from despotism

Similar words

独裁dokusai: A system in which one person or group controls the government without effective limits on its power.
圧政assei: The oppressive exercise of government power that deprives people of freedom and rights.
暴政bōsei: Cruel and unjust government that rules people through harsh treatment and abuse of power.

Definition in Japanese

支配者が政治上の権力をほぼ独占し、反対意見や人民の自由を認めない統治。shi hai sha ga sei ji jō no ken ryoku o ho bo doku sen shi han tai i ken ya jin min no ji yū o mito me na i tō chi

Word origin

専制 (sensei) combines 専 (sen, "exclusive") with 制 (sei, "control"), giving the sense of government under exclusive control.

Usage tips

  • The English word despotism can describe both a form of government and the harsh exercise of power within it, so it may refer to a system or its conduct.

Other meanings

  • autocracynoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 専制的senseitekidespoticna-adjective
  • 専制者senseishadespotnoun

Word lists with this word