HSK · Level 99
45 words
Chinese word
专制
Pronunciation
Pinyinzhuān zhì
Meaning
- adjectiveautocratic
Example
他的作风很专制。tā de zuò fēng hěn zhuān zhì
His way of doing things is very autocratic.
More examples
长期的专制统治让人民渴望变革。cháng qī de zhuān zhì tǒng zhì ràng rén mín kě wàng biàn gé
Long-term autocratic rule made the people yearn for change.
Core concept
One person or a small inner group sets the rules and expects obedience rather than discussion or oversight.
Common phrases
专制统治zhuān zhì tǒng zhì
autocratic rule
专制政权zhuān zhì zhèng quán
autocratic regime
专制制度zhuān zhì zhì dù
autocratic system
Similar words
独裁dú cái: Means holding power alone or in a small group and refusing to accept opposing views.
专横zhuān hèng: Means using power or position to push others down and refusing to listen to them.
专断zhuān duàn: Means deciding matters by oneself and rejecting advice or participation from others.
暴虐bào nüè: Means ruling or treating people with harsh cruelty through force or authority.
Definition in Chinese
权力集中在一个人或少数人手中，通过命令和控制来实施统治或决定，缺乏民主监督和制约。quán lì jí zhōng zài yí gè rén huò shǎo shù rén shǒu zhōng tōng guò mìng lìng hé kòng zhì lái shí shī tǒng zhì huò jué dìng quē fá mín zhǔ jiān dū hé zhì yuē
Word origin
专 (zhuān, "concentrated or exclusive") points to power kept in one place, while 制 (zhì, "control") supplies the idea of ruling through control.
Usage tips
- For English-speaking learners, the word is useful beyond politics because it can describe a controlling boss or parent when the complaint concerns one-sided decisions.
Other meanings
- dictatorialadjective
- authoritarianadjective
Opposites
- 民主的mín zhǔ dedemocraticadjective
Related words
- 专制主义zhuān zhì zhǔ yìautocracynoun
- 专制者zhuān zhì zhěautocratnoun