to present tribute; to pay homage
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to present tribute; to pay homage (as a vassal state or foreign envoy to an emperor)
formalRefers to a historical practice in imperial China where subordinate states or foreign missions acknowledged the superiority of the Chinese emperor by offering gifts and performing rituals. Modern usage is mostly historical or metaphorical.
Lì历
shǐ史
shàng上
，
xǔ许
duō多
Dōng东
nán南
yà亚
guó国
jiā家
céng曾
xiàng向
Zhōng中
guó国
cháo朝
tíng廷
cháo朝
gòng贡
。
Historically, many Southeast Asian countries paid tribute to the Chinese imperial court.
Cháo朝
gòng贡
mào贸
yì易
shì是
gǔ古
dài代
Dōng东
yà亚
guó国
jì际
guān关
xì系
de的
zhòng重
yào要
xíng形
shì式
。
The tribute trade was an important form of international relations in ancient East Asia.
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Shǐ使
tuán团
dài带
zhe着
zhēn珍
guì贵
de的
lǐ礼
wù物
qián前
lái来
cháo朝
gòng贡
。
The diplomatic mission came to pay homage bearing precious gifts.