帝
sovereign, the emperor, god, creator
Readings
On'yomi
- テイ
Kun'yomi
- みかど
Meaning
帝 centers on the highest ruling authority: a sovereign, the emperor, or a divine creator. The god sense is an extension of supreme power, not a separate unrelated meaning.
Most common words using 帝
20 of 132- 帝国ていこくN1
empire
- 皇帝こうてい
emperor
- 帝みかど
emperor (of Japan); mikado
- 大日本帝国だいにっぽんていこく
Empire of Japan (Japan's official name under the Meiji Constitution)
- 帝王ていおう
sovereign; emperor; monarch
- ローマ帝国ローマていこく
Roman Empire
- 大帝たいてい
great emperor; ... the Great
- 女帝じょてい
empress
- 帝都ていと
imperial capital
- 帝王切開ていおうせっかい
Caesarean section; Cesarean section; C-section
- 帝政ていせい
imperial government; imperialism; monarchical rule
- 帝人ていじん
Teijin
- 帝京ていきょう
Teikyo University (abbr)
- 帝京ていきょう
imperial capital
- 帝京大学ていきょうだいがく
Teikyo University
- 聖帝せいてい
virtuous emperor
- 帝劇ていげき
Imperial Theatre (Tokyo)
- 帝国データバンクていこくデータバンク
Teikoku Databank, Ltd
- 天帝てんてい
Shangdi (supreme deity in ancient Chinese religion)
- 帝釈天たいしゃくてん
Śakra (Deva); Shakra; Indra; Shakra Devanam Indra; the king of heaven in Hindu mythology
Study
Etymology
帝 originally depicted an altar or a stand for offerings, later associated with the supreme ruler who performs rites to heaven. The modern form retains the altar-like shape with 巾 at the base.
Meaning mnemonic
The top part looks like a crown or ceremonial headdress, and the bottom 巾 is a cloth or robe. Together they form the image of an emperor in full regalia, the ultimate sovereign.
Reading mnemonic
For テイ, imagine the emperor sipping tea (ティー) on his throne: tea -> テイ, and the emperor's authority is absolute.