dependency; vassal state
Historical term for a state or territory that is subordinate to a more powerful state, often in the context of pre-modern East Asian tributary systems. Rare in everyday conversation; mainly appears in historical or political texts.
The small country survived as a dependency of the great power.
The history book contains descriptions of the surrounding vassal states.
保護国 implies a protectorate with some degree of autonomy, whereas 付庸 suggests a more direct subordination.
Standard kanji form for 'dependency' or 'vassal state'.
Variant kanji form using 附 instead of 付; both are used in historical contexts.
From Chinese 附庸 (fùyōng), meaning a small state attached to a larger one. The Japanese reading is ふよう, using the kanji 付 or 附 for 'attach' and 庸 for 'service' or 'tribute'.