pay tribute; become a vassal
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to pay tribute; to offer tribute
formalA historical and formal term describing a state relationship where a weaker or subordinate state offers goods (tribute) to a stronger or suzerain state as a sign of submission, allegiance, or to secure peace.
Zhōu周
biān边
xiǎo小
guó国
fēn纷
fēn纷
xiàng向
qiáng强
dà大
de的
zhōng中
yuán原
wáng王
cháo朝
nà纳
gòng贡
。
The surrounding small states paid tribute to the powerful Central Plains dynasty.
Tā他
men们
bèi被
pò迫
chēng称
chén臣
nà纳
gòng贡
，
yǐ以
huàn换
qǔ取
bù不
bèi被
qīn侵
lüè略
。
They were forced to declare themselves vassals and pay tribute in exchange for not being invaded.
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Zhè这
fèn份
tiáo条
yuē约
guī规
dìng定
zhàn战
bài败
guó国
měi每
nián年
xū需
xiàng向
zhàn战
shèng胜
guó国
nà纳
gòng贡
。
This treaty stipulated that the defeated nation must pay annual tribute to the victor.