Xiongnu queen; consort of chanyu
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
title of the principal wife of the Xiongnu chanyu (ruler) during the Han Dynasty
archaicHistorical term from the Han Dynasty referring specifically to the wife of the Xiongnu chanyu (单于). Famous in history as the title given to Wang Zhaojun (王昭君) when she married the Xiongnu leader, becoming Ninghu Yanzhi (宁胡阏氏). The term appears frequently in historical records and classical poetry describing frontier affairs and nomadic peoples.
Zhāo昭
jūn君
chū出
sài塞
，
chéng成
wéi为
Níng宁
hú胡
yān阏
zhī氏
。
Wang Zhaojun departed beyond the frontier and became the Ninghu Yanzhi (Peaceful Hu Queen).
Chán单
yú于
yǔ与
yān阏
zhī氏
qīn亲
zì自
shuài率
jūn军
chū出
zhēng征
。
The chanyu and his queen personally led the army into battle.
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Yān阏
zhī氏
shì是
Xiōng匈
nú奴
duì对
wáng王
hòu后
de的
yī一
zhǒng种
zūn尊
chēng称
。
Yanzhi was an honorific title used by the Xiongnu to address their queen.