事じ大だい

noun

subservience to the powerful; serving the strong

A formal, somewhat literary term describing a smaller or weaker state's policy of deferring to a larger power. Often used in historical or political contexts, especially in East Asian diplomacy. The concept originates from the Chinese phrase 事大 (shìdà), meaning 'serving the great'.

• 事じ大だい主しゅ義ぎは、弱じゃく小しょう国こくが大たい国こくに従じゅう属ぞくする外がい交こう姿し勢せいを指さす。

  Sadaejuui (事大主義) refers to a diplomatic stance where a small country subordinates itself to a great power.

• 歴れき史し的てきに、朝ちょう鮮せん王おう朝ちょうは中ちゅう国ごくに対たいして事じ大だいの礼れいをとった。

  Historically, the Joseon dynasty adopted a policy of serving the great (事大) toward China.