vassal state; tributary state
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
vassal state; tributary state; subordinate state
formalUsed in historical and political science contexts to describe a state that is nominally sovereign but subordinate to another (usually more powerful) state. The concept was common in pre-modern international relations, particularly in the Chinese tributary system.
Zài在
gǔ古
dài代
，
Cháo朝
xiǎn鲜
céng曾
shì是
Zhōng中
guó国
de的
fù附
shǔ属
guó国
。
In ancient times, Korea was a tributary state of China.
Zhè这
ge个
fù附
shǔ属
guó国
suī虽
rán然
yǒu有
zì自
jǐ己
de的
guó国
wáng王
，
dàn但
wài外
jiāo交
quán权
zhǎng掌
wò握
zài在
zōng宗
zhǔ主
guó国
shǒu手
zhōng中
。
Although this vassal state had its own king, diplomatic power was held by the suzerain state.
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Lì历
shǐ史
shàng上
，
xǔ许
duō多
fù附
shǔ属
guó国
xū需
yào要
dìng定
qī期
xiàng向
zōng宗
zhǔ主
guó国
jìn进
gòng贡
。
Historically, many tributary states needed to pay tribute to the suzerain state regularly.
Xiàn现
dài代
guó国
jì际
fǎ法
zhōng中
yǐ已
jīng经
hěn很
shǎo少
shǐ使
yòng用
"
fù附
shǔ属
guó国
"
zhè这
yī一
gài概
niàn念
。
The concept of "vassal state" is rarely used in modern international law.