| 皇帝 | huáng dì | emperor / CL:個|个[ge4] |   |
| 皇上 | huáng shang | the emperor / Your majesty the emperor / His imperial majesty | |
| 天王 | tiān wáng | emperor / god / Hong Xiuquan's self-proclaimed title / see also 洪秀全[Hong2 Xiu4 quan2] | |
| 天子 | tiān zǐ | the (rightful) emperor / "Son of Heaven" (traditional English translation) | |
| 大圣 | dà shèng | great sage / mahatma / king / emperor / outstanding personage / Buddha | |
| 天皇 | tiān huáng | Heavenly Sovereign, one of the three legendary sovereigns 三皇[san1 huang2] / emperor / emperor of Japan | |
| 大驾 | dà jià | imperial chariot / (fig.) emperor / (polite) you | |
| 佛爷 | Fó ye | Buddha (term of respect for Sakyamuni 釋迦牟尼|释迦牟尼[Shi4 jia1 mou2 ni2]) / His Holiness (refers to a Buddhist grandee) / Buddha / God / emperor / in late Qing court, refers exclusively to Empress Dowager Cixi 慈禧太后[Ci2 xi3 tai4 hou4] | |
| 官家 | guān jiā | emperor / government / official | |
| 圣诞 | Shèng dàn | Christmas / birthday of reigning Emperor / Confucius' birthday | |
| 行人 | xíng rén | pedestrian / traveler on foot / passer-by / official responsible for arranging audiences with the emperor | |
| 康熙 | Kāng xī | Kangxi, title of the reign (1661-1722) of the Kangxi Emperor 聖祖|圣祖[Sheng4 zu3] | |
| 大帝 | dà dì | heavenly emperor / "the Great" (title) | |
| 乾隆 | Qián lóng | Qianlong Emperor (1711-1799), sixth Qing emperor, princely title 寶親王|宝亲王[Bao3 Qin1 wang2], personal name 弘曆|弘历[Hong2 li4], reigned 1735-1799 | |
| 诸侯 | zhū hóu | dukes or princes who rule a part of the country under the emperor / local rulers | |
| 朝天 | cháo tiān | to have an audience with the Emperor / to be presented at court / to look skyward / to look up | |
| 永乐 | Yǒng lè | Yongle Emperor, reign name of third Ming emperor Zhu Di 朱棣[Zhu1 Di4] (1360-1424), reigned 1403-1424, temple name 明成祖[Ming2 Cheng2 zu3] | |
| 黄帝 | Huáng dì | the Yellow Emperor, mythological emperor of China, reigned c. 2697-2597 BC | |
| 李世民 | Lǐ Shì mín | Li Shimin, personal name of second Tang emperor Taizong 唐太宗[Tang2 Tai4 zong1] (599-649), reigned 626-649 | |
| 拿破仑 | Ná pò lún | Napoleon (name) / Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), Emperor of France 1804-1815 | |
| 项羽 | Xiàng Yǔ | Xiang Yu the Conqueror (232-202 BC), warlord defeated by first Han emperor | |
| 光绪 | Guāng xù | reign name of penultimate Qing emperor Guangxu or Guang-hsu (1875-1908) | |
| 蚩尤 | Chī Yóu | Chiyou, legendary tribal leader who was defeated and killed by the Yellow Emperor 黃帝|黄帝[Huang2 di4] | |
| 朱元璋 | Zhū Yuán zhāng | Zhu Yuanzhang, personal name of first Ming dynasty emperor Hongwu 洪武[Hong2 wu3] | |
| 雍正 | Yōng zhèng | Yongzheng, reign name of Qing emperor (1722-1735) | |
| 玉帝 | yù dì | the Jade Emperor | |
| 道光 | Dào guāng | reign name of Qing emperor (1821-1850) | |
| 御用 | yù yòng | for use by the emperor / imperial / (derog.) in the pay of the ruler | |
| 玉皇 | Yù huáng | Jade Emperor (in Taoism) | |
| 天帝 | Tiān dì | God of heaven / Celestial emperor | |
| 集权 | jí quán | centralized power (history), e.g. under an Emperor or party | |
| 伏羲 | Fú Xī | Fuxi, legendary Chinese emperor, trad. 2852-2738 BC, mythical creator of fishing, trapping and writing | |
| 保驾 | bǎo jià | (in former times) to escort the emperor (or other important personage) / (nowadays) to escort sb (usually jocular) | |
| 太宗 | Tài zōng | posthumous name given to the second emperor of a dynasty / King Taejong of Joseon Korea (1367-1422), reigned 1400-1418 | |
| 皇位 | huáng wèi | the title of Emperor | |
| 承运 | chéng yùn | to provide transport / to accept the Mandate of Heaven / to acknowledge one's calling to be emperor | |
| 圣上 | shèng shàng | courtier's or minister's form of address for the current Emperor | |
| 韩信 | Hán Xìn | Han Xin (-196 BC), famous general of first Han emperor Liu Bang 劉邦|刘邦[Liu2 Bang1] | |
| 袁世凯 | Yuán Shì kǎi | Yuan Shikai (1859-1916), senior general of late Qing, subsequently warlord and self-proclaimed emperor of China | |
| 崇祯 | Chóng zhēn | Chongzhen, reign name of last Ming emperor (1628-1644) | |
| 明治 | Míng zhì | Meiji, Japanese era name, corresponding to the reign (1868-1912) of the Meiji emperor | |
| 万历 | Wàn lì | reign name of Ming emperor (1573-1619) | |
| 引见 | yǐn jiàn | to introduce (sb) / (esp.) to present to the emperor | |
| 小皇帝 | xiǎo huáng dì | child emperor / (fig.) spoiled child / spoiled boy / pampered only child | |
| 顺治 | Shùn zhì | reign name of second Qing emperor (1644-1662) | |
| 恺撒 | Kǎi sǎ | Caesar (name) / Gaius Julius Caesar 100-42 BC / by extension, emperor, Kaiser, Tsar | |
| 吕不韦 | Lu:3 Bù wéi | Lü / Buwei (?291-235 BC), merchant and politician of the State of Qin 秦國|秦国[Qin2 guo2], subsequent Qin Dynasty 秦代[Qin2 dai4] Chancellor, allegedly the father of Ying Zheng 嬴政[Ying2 Zheng4], who subsequently became the first emperor Qin Shihuang 秦始皇[Qin2 Shi3 huang2] | |
| 嘉庆 | Jiā qìng | Jiaqing Emperor (1760-1820), seventh Qing emperor, personal name 顒琰|颙琰[Yong2 yan3], reigned 1796-1820 | |
| 刑天 | Xíng tiān | Xingtian, headless giant hero of Chinese mythology decapitated by the Yellow Emperor 黃帝|黄帝[Huang2 di4] | |
| 洪武 | Hóng wǔ | Hongwu Emperor, also written Hung-wu Ti, reign name of first Ming emperor Zhu Yuanzhang 朱元璋[Zhu1 Yuan2 zhang1] (1328-1398), reigned 1386-1398, temple name 明太祖[Ming2 Tai4 zu3] | |
| 同治 | Tóng zhì | reign name of Qing emperor (1861-1875) | |
| 刘裕 | Liú Yù | Liu Yu, founder of Song of the Southern dynasties 劉宋|刘宋[Liu2 Song4], broke away from Eastern Jin in 420, reigned as Emperor Wu of Song 宋武帝[Song4 Wu3 di4] | |
| 炎黄子孙 | Yán Huáng zǐ sūn | descendants of the Fiery Emperor and the Yellow Emperor (i.e. Han Chinese people) | |
| 多尔衮 | Duō ěr gǔn | Dorgon (1612-1651), fourteenth son of Nurhaci 努爾哈赤|努尔哈赤[Nu3 er3 ha1 chi4], successful general, instrumental in Manchu conquest of China, ruled China as regent 1644-1650 for his nephew Emperor Shunzhi 順治帝|顺治帝[Shun4 zhi4 di4] | |
| 李渊 | Lǐ Yuān | Li Yuan, personal name of first Tang emperor Gaozu 唐高祖[Tang2 Gao1 zu3] (566-635), reigned 618-626 | |
| 年号 | nián hào | reign title / era name (name for either the entire reign of an emperor or one part of it) / year number (such as 2016 or 甲子) | |
| 正德 | Zhèng dé | Zhengde Emperor, reign name of eleventh Ming emperor Zhu Houzhao 朱厚照[Zhu1 Hou4 zhao4] (1491-1521), reigned 1505-1521, temple name 明武宗[Ming2 Wu3 zong1] | |
| 谢恩 | xiè ēn | to thank sb for favor (esp. emperor or superior official) | |
| 大正 | Dà zhèng | Taishō, Japanese era name, corresponding to the reign (1912-1926) of emperor Yoshihito 嘉仁[Jia1 ren2] | |
| 溥仪 | Pǔ yí | Puyi, personal name of the last Qing emperor (reigned as child 1909-1911), the subject of Bertolucci's biopic The Last Emperor | |
| 阿斗 | A1 dǒu | A-dou, nickname of Liu Shan 劉禪|刘禅[Liu2 Shan4] (207-271), son of Liu Bei, reigned as Shu Han emperor 233-263 / (fig.) weak and inept person | |
| 本纪 | běn jì | biographic sketch of an emperor | |
| 奏折 | zòu zhé | memorial to the emperor (folded in accordion form) | |
| 赵匡胤 | Zhào Kuāng yìn | Zhao Kuangyin, personal name of founding Song emperor Song Taizu 宋太祖 / (927-976) | |
| 公卿 | gōng qīng | high-ranking officials in the court of a Chinese emperor | |
| 昭和 | Zhāo hé | Shōwa, Japanese era name, corresponding to the reign (1925-1989) of emperor Hirohito 裕仁[Yu4 ren2] | |
| 忽必烈 | Hū bì liè | Khubilai Khan (1215-1294), grandson of Genghis Khan 成吉思汗, first Yuan dynasty emperor, reigned 1260-1294 | |
| 曹丕 | Cáo Pī | Cao Pi (187-226), second son of Cao Cao 曹操, king then emperor of Cao Wei 曹魏 / from 220, ruled as Emperor Wen 魏文帝, also a noted calligrapher | |
| 真武 | Zhēn wǔ | Lord of profound heaven, major Daoist deity / aka Black Tortoise 玄武 / or Black heavenly emperor 玄天上帝 | |
| 杨玉环 | Yáng Yù huán | Yang Yuhuan, aka Yang Guifei 楊貴妃|杨贵妃[Yang2 Gui4 fei1] (719-756), famous Tang beauty, consort of Emperor Xuanzhong 唐玄宗[Tang2 Xuan2 zong1] | |
| 围场 | wéi chǎng | enclosure / pig pen / hunting ground exclusively kept for emperor or nobility (in former times) | |
| 秦始皇陵 | Qín Shǐ huáng líng | the tomb of the first emperor at Mt Li 驪山|骊山[Li2 shan1] near Xi'an (awaits excavation) | |
| 嬴政 | Yíng Zhèng | Ying Zheng (260-210 BC), personal name of the first emperor 秦始皇[Qin2 Shi3 huang2] | |
| 高云 | Gāo Yún | Gao Yun (died 409) emperor of Northern or Later Yan dynasty | |
| 汉高祖 | Hàn Gāo zǔ | posthumous name of the first Han emperor Liu Bang 劉邦|刘邦 / (256 or 247-195 BC), reigned 202-195 BC | |
| 五帝 | wǔ dì | the Five Legendary Emperors, usually taken to be the Yellow Emperor 黃帝|黄帝[Huang2 di4], Zhuanxu 顓頊|颛顼[Zhuan1 xu1], Di Ku 帝嚳|帝喾[Di4 Ku4], Tang Yao 唐堯|唐尧[Tang2 Yao2] and Yu Shun 虞舜[Yu2 Shun4] | |
| 丰沛 | fēng pèi | copious / plentiful (of water) / surging (of waves) / refers to home village of first Han emperor 漢高祖|汉高祖[Han4 Gao1 zu3] / fig. majestic | |
| 刘伯温 | Liú Bó wēn | Liu Bowen (1311-1375), general under the first Ming emperor Zhu Yuanzhang 朱元璋[Zhu1 Yuan2 zhang1], with a reputation as a military genius, also called Liu Ji 劉基|刘基[Liu2 Ji1] | |
| 骊山 | Lí shān | Mt Li near Xi'an with the tomb of the First Emperor | |
| 鸿门宴 | Hóng mén Yàn | Hongmen feast / (fig.) banquet set up with the aim of murdering a guest / refers to a famous episode in 206 BC when future Han emperor Liu Bang 劉邦|刘邦[Liu2 Bang1] escaped attempted murder by his rival Xiang Yu 項羽|项羽[Xiang4 Yu3] | |
| 建文 | Jiàn Wén | Jianwen Emperor, reign name of second Ming Emperor Zhu Yunwen 朱允炆[Zhu1 Yun3 wen2] (1377-1402), reigned 1398-1402 | |
| 上疏 | shàng shū | (of a court official) to present a memorial to the emperor (old) | |
| 恩泽 | ēn zé | favor from an emperor or high official | |
| 逼宫 | bī gōng | to force the king or emperor to abdicate | |
| 御敌 | yù dí | armed enemy of the nation / enemy of the Emperor / fig. championship challenger / contender opposing champion in sporting contest | |
| 王昭君 | Wáng Zhāo jūn | Wang Zhaojun (52-19 BC), famous beauty at the court of Han emperor Yuan 漢元帝|汉元帝[Han4 Yuan2 di4], one of the four legendary beauties 四大美女[si4 da4 mei3 nu:3] | |
| 太上皇 | Tài shàng huáng | Taishang Huang / Retired Emperor / father of the reigning emperor / fig. puppet master | |
| 天顺 | Tiān shùn | Tianshun Emperor, reign name of eighth Ming Emperor 朱祁鎮|朱祁镇[Zhu1 Qi2 zhen4] (1427-1464), reigned 1457-1464, temple name Yingzong 英宗[Ying1 zong1] | |
| 宋徽宗 | Sòng Huī zōng | Emperor Huizong (Song Dynasty) | |
| 精卫 | Jīng wèi | mythological bird, reincarnation of drowned daughter Nüwa 女娃[Nu:3 wa2] of Fiery Emperor 炎帝[Yan2 di4] | |
| 御赐 | yù cì | to be bestowed by the emperor | |
| 仓颉 | Cāng Jié | Cang Jie, legendary scribe of the Yellow Emperor and inventor of Chinese writing / (computing) Cangjie input method | |
| 宣统 | Xuān tǒng | reign name (1909-1911) of the last Qing emperor Pu Yi 溥儀|溥仪 | |
| 明太祖 | Míng Tài zǔ | Ming Taizu, temple name of first Ming emperor Hongwu 洪武[Hong2 wu3] | |
| 英宗 | Yīng zōng | Yingzong, temple name of sixth and eighth Ming emperor Zhengtong 正統|正统[Zheng4 tong3] | |
| 日本天皇 | Rì běn tiān huáng | Emperor of Japan | |
| 颛顼 | Zhuān Xū | Zhuanxu, one of the Five Legendary Emperors 五帝[wu3 di4], grandson of the Yellow Emperor 黃帝|黄帝[Huang2 di4], trad. reigned 2513-2435 BC | |
| 宣德 | Xuān dé | Xuande Emperor, reign name of fifth Ming emperor Zhu Zhanji 朱瞻基[Zhu1 Zhan1 ji1] (1398-1435), reigned 1426-1436, temple name 明宣宗[Ming2 Xuan1 zong1] | |
| 秦代 | Qín dài | Qin dynasty (221-207 BC), founded by the first emperor Qin Shihuang 秦始皇[Qin2 Shi3 huang2], the first dynasty to rule the whole of China | |
| 苻坚 | Fú Jiān | Fu Jian (338-385), emperor of Former Qin 前秦[Qian2 Qin2], reigning from 357-385 | |
