全ぜん権けん公こう使し

ぜ

ん

け

ん

こ

う

し

Meanings

1

noun

minister plenipotentiary

A diplomatic rank below ambassador, with full authority to represent the sending state. Used in historical and formal contexts.

彼かれは全ぜん権けん公こう使しとして条じょう約やく交こう渉しょうに臨のぞんだ。
He attended the treaty negotiations as minister plenipotentiary.

全

whole, entire, all

権authority, power, rights

公public, prince, official

使use, send on a mission, order

Similar words

大たい使し
大使 is a higher-ranking ambassador, while 全権公使 is a minister plenipotentiary, a rank below ambassador.
特とく命めい全ぜん権けん大たい使し
特命全権大使 is an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary, the highest diplomatic rank, whereas 全権公使 is a lower rank.

Etymology

Compound of 全権 (plenipotentiary, full authority) and 公使 (minister, envoy). The term is a direct translation of the Western diplomatic rank 'minister plenipotentiary'.