覇
hegemony, supremacy, leadership, champion
Readings
On'yomi
- ハ
- ハク
Kun'yomi
- はたがしら
Nanori
- はる
Meaning
覇 centers on dominant control or influence: hegemony, supremacy, or leadership, especially in a competitive context. The champion sense is a natural extension of being the top leader.
Most common words using 覇
20 of 23- 制覇せいは
conquest; domination; supremacy; mastery
- 那覇なは
Naha (city in Okinawa)
- 連覇れんぱ
successive championships
- 覇は
supremacy (over a nation); hegemony; domination; leadership
- 覇権はけん
hegemony
- 覇者はしゃ
supreme ruler; conqueror
- 覇王はおう
supreme ruler; autocrat; dynast; high king
- 覇気はき
spirit; drive; vigour; vigor
- 覇道はどう
rule by military force; military rule
- 世界制覇せかいせいは
domination of the world; world hegemony; world domination
- 争覇そうは
contending for victory; struggling for supremacy
- 争覇戦そうはせん
struggle for supremacy; championship game
- 初制覇はつせいは
first victory
- 味覇ウェイパー
weipa (seasoning)
- 覇を唱えるはをとなえる
to reign supreme; to assume the leadership (hegemony); to dominate
- 覇下はか
Baxia (legendary Chinese dragon)
- 覇業はぎょう
domination; supremacy
- 覇権主義はけんしゅぎ
hegemonism
- 覇権争いはけんあらそい
leadership competition; power struggle
- 覇権安定論はけんあんていろん
hegemonic stability theory
Study
Etymology
覇 is the modern simplified form of 霸. The older form 霸 combines 雨 (rain) with 革 (leather) and 月 (moon), possibly suggesting a leader's authority covering all under heaven. The modern form replaces 雨 with 覀, a common simplification.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 覀 looks like a crown or covering, and the bottom 䩗 suggests leather and moon. Picture a champion wearing a leather crown under the moon, ruling with supremacy.
Reading mnemonic
For ハ, imagine a hegemon laughing 'Ha!' as they dominate: Ha -> ハ, and the champion stands supreme.