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専横 (せんおう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word Freq. Frequency Top 100,000 Meanings 1
noun, na-adjective
arbitrariness ; high-handedness ; tyranny
Describes a person or action that is overbearing, dictatorial, and ignores others' opinions. Often used in political, organizational, or interpersonal contexts.
決けっ
定てい
は
社しゃ
長ちょう
の
専せん
横おう
に
よる
もの
だ
。
That decision was due to the president's arbitrariness.
Written forms 専せん 横おう Usage 100%
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
擅せん 横おう
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; learners should recognize but not produce it.
Kanji 専 specialty, exclusive, mainly 横 sideways, side, horizontal Similar words 横おう 暴ぼう 横暴 emphasizes violent or oppressive behavior, while 専横 focuses on arbitrary, dictatorial decision-making without regard for others.
独どく 裁さい 独裁 refers to dictatorship as a system of government; 専横 describes the quality of being overbearing or arbitrary, not necessarily institutional.
Etymology Compound of 専 (せん, 'solely, arbitrarily') and 横 (おう, 'sideways, unreasonable'). The combination conveys acting solely according to one's own will in an unreasonable manner.