摄政 (shè zhèng) — to act as regent, to serve as regent

Definition

摄政 is a formal verb-object compound meaning 'to act as regent' — ruling on behalf of a monarch who is too young, absent, or incapacitated. As a separable verb (离合词), the object 政 can be separated from 摄 by aspect markers or modifiers: 摄了政 ('acted as regent'), 摄过政 ('has acted as regent'). It appears in historical and political contexts, especially in discussions of imperial China or constitutional monarchies.

v.o.

to act as regentto serve as regent

Examples

摄政。
Tā zài huángdì niányòu shí shè zhèng.
He acted as regent when the emperor was young.
，。
Zhè wèi dàchén céngjīng shè guò zhèng, quánlì hěn dà.
This minister once served as regent and had great power.
，。
Lìshǐ shàng, tàihòu shè zhèng de qíngkuàng bìng bù shǎojiàn.
In history, it was not uncommon for empress dowagers to act as regents.

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