霸道 bàdào the Way of the Hegemon
the Way of the Hegemon; short for 霸王之道; despotic rule; rule by might; evil as opposed to the Way of the King 王道; overbearing; tyranny; (of liquor, medicine etc) strong; potent
How to remember 霸道: 霸 tyrant + 道 way = the Way of the Hegemon.
Characters
How it is used
- Overbearing / high-handed - throwing one's weight around - 他说话太霸道 (tā shuōhuà tài bàdào) he talks in a domineering way.
- Colloquially the common sense is 'bossy/tyrannical'; also 霸道总裁 (the domineering-CEO trope in romance fiction).
- Second sense: (of food/liquor/medicine) potent, strong (这酒很霸道). Historically opposed to 王道 (rule by virtue).