<p>霸王 is used as a name for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiang_Yu" rel="nofollow">Xiang Yu</a>, a famous warlord of the late <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin_dynasty" rel="nofollow">Qin</a> era, and this play is a straight-up usage of this name - it describes Xiang Yu bidding his concubine farewell. Other usages of the word "霸王" is usually in reference to him; for example <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Ce" rel="nofollow">Sun Ce</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhou_Tong_(Water_Margin)" rel="nofollow">Zhou Tong</a> both have the nickname of "小霸王" due to their martial prowess.</p>

<p>However, the character 霸 in 霸王 is not a name; it simply takes its <a href="http://www.zdic.net/z/27/js/9738.htm" rel="nofollow">actual meaning of "hegemony" or "tyranny"</a>. Thus 霸王 is translated as "hegemon-king", "king-of-kings" and so on. It describes a king that, unlike normal kings, has dominion over other kings without being an emperor. This is exactly what Xiang Yu was when he claimed the title 西楚霸王.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-13T05:55:00.120Z
2015-08-13T05:55:00.120Z
congusbongus
<p>It can be a <a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/%E9%9C%B8%E7%8E%8B" rel="nofollow">general term</a>, i.e. not a proper name, but it is/was often used to refer to a certain historic person called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiang_Yu" rel="nofollow">Xiang Yu</a>. So 霸王 will not translate as "King Ba". </p>

<p>Chinese Wikipedia:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>霸王是指比一般王还强盛的君王，时常是文人雅士对项羽的尊称。</p>
</blockquote>

<hr>

<p>More references:</p>

<p>Baidu Baike:  <a href="http://baike.baidu.com/subview/72575/5122187.htm" rel="nofollow">霸王</a>（汉语词语）</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>霸王，古时指霸和王，也用来尊称霸主，特指西楚霸王项羽，或者比喻非常蛮横的人。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In addition Baidu Baike lists <a href="http://baike.baidu.com/view/72575.htm?force=1" rel="nofollow">12 entries</a> in total for this word.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-13T05:48:31.000Z
2015-08-13T05:54:48.283Z
2015-08-13T05:54:48.283Z
imrek
<p>In this situation (霸王别姬), 霸王 usually means a king who is stronger than other kings.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-18T12:22:05.857Z
霸王 usually means "overlord", but **in this situation**, 霸王 means 西楚霸王 (i.e. 项羽), and 姬 means 虞姬 (the wife of 西楚霸王). Haven't you heard the story of 霸王别姬 ? It's so famous.
Victor
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-13T05:56:58.400Z
2015-08-13T05:56:58.400Z
Delay No More
<p>I have not seen the film or read the book， I can't judge. </p>

<p>Is this 霸 just a name, or does 霸王 really mean 'the tyrant king'？</p>

<meaning>
In 霸王别姬 is 霸 just a name?
# In 霸王别姬 is 霸 just a name?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-08-13)

I have not seen the film or read the book， I can't judge.

Is this 霸 just a name, or does 霸王 really mean 'the tyrant king'？

**Tags:** meaning


---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-08-13. Score: 3

霸王 is used as a name for [Xiang Yu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiang_Yu), a famous warlord of the late [Qin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin_dynasty) era, and this play is a straight-up usage of this name - it describes Xiang Yu bidding his concubine farewell. Other usages of the word "霸王" is usually in reference to him; for example [Sun Ce](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Ce) and [Zhou Tong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhou_Tong_(Water_Margin)) both have the nickname of "小霸王" due to their martial prowess.

However, the character 霸 in 霸王 is not a name; it simply takes its [actual meaning of "hegemony" or "tyranny"](http://www.zdic.net/z/27/js/9738.htm). Thus 霸王 is translated as "hegemon-king", "king-of-kings" and so on. It describes a king that, unlike normal kings, has dominion over other kings without being an emperor. This is exactly what Xiang Yu was when he claimed the title 西楚霸王.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-08-13. Score: 3

It can be a [general term](https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/%E9%9C%B8%E7%8E%8B), i.e. not a proper name, but it is/was often used to refer to a certain historic person called [Xiang Yu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiang_Yu). So 霸王 will not translate as "King Ba".

Chinese Wikipedia:

> 霸王是指比一般王还强盛的君王，时常是文人雅士对项羽的尊称。

---

username_3 references:

Baidu Baike: [霸王](http://baike.baidu.com/subview/72575/5122187.htm)（汉语词语）

> 霸王，古时指霸和王，也用来尊称霸主，特指西楚霸王项羽，或者比喻非常蛮横的人。

In addition Baidu Baike lists [12 entries](http://baike.baidu.com/view/72575.htm?force=1) in total for this word.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-08-13. Score: 0

In this situation (霸王别姬), 霸王 usually means a king who is stronger than other kings.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: 霸王 usually means "overlord", but **in this situation**, 霸王 means 西楚霸王 (i.e. 项羽), and 姬 means 虞姬 (the wife of 西楚霸王). Haven't you heard the story of 霸王别姬 ? It's so famous.  

---

