Chinese word

元首

Pronunciation

Pinyinyuán shǒu

Meaning

  • nounhead of state

Example

总统是国家的元首。zóng tǒng shì guó jiā de yuán shǒu

The president is the head of state.

Illustration for 元首 (head of state)

More examples

议会通过的法律需要由元首签署后生效。yì huì tōng guò de fǎ lǜ xū yào yóu yuán shǒu qiān shǔ hòu shēng xiào

A law passed by parliament takes effect after being signed by the head of state.

Core concept

The person who stands at the top of a country's official structure, with real authority, symbolic duty, or both.

Common phrases

  • 国家元首guó jiā yuán shǒu

    head of state

  • 元首权威yuán shǒu quán wēi

    authority of the head of state

Similar words

国家元首guó jiā yuán shǒu: A formal name for a country's highest representative in international and legal matters.
国家主席guó jiā zhǔ xí: The official title of the head of state in China and some other countries.
总统zóng tǒng: A usually elected national leader who represents the country and helps make major decisions.
君主jūn zhǔ: A hereditary national leader who serves as the country's ruler, symbol, or both.

Definition in Chinese

指在国家体系中被视为最高者的人，既可指拥有统治实权的领导者，也可指主要承担国家象征职责的元首，常在法律与外交语境中使用。zhǐ zài guó jiā tǐ xì zhōng bèi shì wéi zuì gāo zhě de rén jì kě zhǐ yōng yǒu tǒng zhì shí quán de líng dáo zhě yě kě zhǐ zhǔ yào chéng dān guó jiā xiàng zhēng zhí zé de yuán shǒu cháng zài fǎ lǜ yǔ wài jiāo yǔ jìng zhōng shǐ yòng

Word origin

元首 (yuánshǒu, "head of state") is formed from 元 (yuán, "principal") + 首 (shǒu, "head"), so its structure marks the person at the state's top.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech, a more specific title such as president or king is usually preferred, while this broader term suits formal discussions of countries and their leaders.

Other meanings

  • monarchnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 国家元首guó jiā yuán shǒuhead of statenoun

Word lists with this word