主権者
shukensha
In Japanese, 'sovereign' is expressed as 主権者 (shukensha).
主権者 refers to the authoritative figure or entity that possesses supreme power within a defined territory or state.
Meaning: monarch (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 主権者 is a general term for a holder of sovereignty, 覇者 depicts a dominant figure who reigns or rules with authority, often conveying a sense of power and might and 天皇 is used for the Emperor of Japan.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
shukensha
Did you know?
- In modern Japanese civic education, 主権者 is rarely used to describe a king. Instead, it is the standard term used to refer to individual citizens in a democracy.
- While 主権者 implies legal authority, the term 覇者 is the go-to word for a 'champion' in sports or video games. It describes someone who has conquered their rivals through strength rather than through a legal right to rule.
- The first kanji in 主権者, 主, can also mean 'master' or 'owner' in the context of a household or a pet. This gives the term a nuance of someone who possesses absolute ownership over a domain.
Examples in context
- 彼はその業界の覇者だ。He is the sovereign of that industry.
Example conversation
Two students are discussing a political science lecture.
- 結衣 Yui今日の講義は難しかったね。Kyō no kōgi wa muzukashikatta ne.Today's lecture was difficult, wasn't it?
- 健太 Kenta主権者の定義について考えていたんだ。Shuken-sha no teigi ni tsuite kangaete ita nda.I was thinking about the definition of the sovereign.
- 結衣 Yui民主主義では国民が主権者だよね。Minshushugi de wa kokumin ga shuken-sha da yo ne.In a democracy, the people are the sovereign, right?
- 健太 Kentaその通りだよ、結衣さん。Sono tōri da yo, Yui-san.That's exactly right, Yui.
