土皇帝

tǔhuángdì
noun #69,736

Measure Word

Meanings

  1. 1 local tyrant
  2. 2 petty despot
  3. 3 tin-pot ruler

Examples

HSK 6
Tā zài zhènshàng jiǎnzhí jiùshì gè tǔhuángdì.
In that town he's basically a local tyrant.
HSK 7-9
Diàocházǔ jiēlù le zhège cūn gànbù dāng tǔhuángdì de èxíng.
The inspection team exposed how this village cadre was lording it as a petty despot.

Tips

usage
here means 'local / domestic' (as in 土特产 'local specialties') with a derogatory edge - a 土皇帝 is someone who acts like an emperor but only in their tiny patch. Common in news exposés of corrupt officials and gangsters in remote areas.

Stroke Order

huáng