帝 dì supreme ruler
supreme ruler; emperor; god
How it came to be
A bundle of sticks tied into a stand, bound at the middle: the frame for a burnt offering. The god it was for took the name, and much later so did the emperor.
How it is used
- An emperor/supreme ruler - 皇帝 (huángdì) emperor, 帝王 (dìwáng) monarch, 称帝 (chēngdì) proclaim oneself emperor.
- 帝国 (dìguó) = empire; 帝国主义 (dìguó zhǔyì) imperialism. Also 上帝 (Shàngdì) = God (in Christian usage). Distinguish 帝 (emperor) from 王 (wáng, king, a lower rank).