覇 権(はけん)

はけん

noun

hegemony, supremacy, dominance

academic

1. hegemony, supremacy, dominance

The dominant power or influence held over others, especially in politics, military affairs, economics, or a competitive field. Used in both serious geopolitical contexts and lighter contexts like sports or pop culture.

覇権(はけん)を握(にぎ)る。

Seize hegemony.

二(ふた)つの大国(たいこく)が覇権(はけん)を争(あらそ)っている。

Two great powers are vying for supremacy.

IT業界(ぎょうかい)における覇権(はけん)争(あらそ)いは年々(ねんねん)激(はげ)しさを増(ま)している。

The struggle for dominance in the IT industry is growing fiercer year by year.

Usage

覇権(はけん) originally refers to political or military dominance. In modern Japanese, it is also used more casually in sports (league dominance), business (market dominance), and pop culture (e.g., 覇権(はけん)アニメ — the dominant anime of a season).

The term 覇権(はけん)主義(しゅぎ) (hegemonism) is used critically to describe a country's pursuit of dominance over others.

Common collocations

覇権(はけん)を握(にぎ)る (grasp hegemony)
覇権(はけん)を争(あらそ)う (compete for supremacy)
覇権(はけん)争(あらそ)い (power struggle, contest for dominance)
覇権(はけん)主義(しゅぎ) (hegemonism)
覇権(はけん)国家(こっか) (hegemonic state)

Similar words

支配(しはい): control, rule (direct control over others)
優位(ゆうい): superiority, advantage (relative position)
制覇(せいは): conquest, domination (achieving complete control)

Related Words

Related: 支配(しはい) (control, rule)

Related: 優位(ゆうい) (superiority, advantage)

Compare: 制覇(せいは) (conquest, domination)

Compare: 支配権(しはいけん) (control)

general

Added 2026.2.28 9:53 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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