帝 foreign emperor

立 (stand up) + (swordswallower)
★★☆☆☆
9 strokes
BETASTRONG

Onyomi

TEI

TAKE me to the foreign emperor now!

Mnemonic

The foreign emperor stands in front of you swallowing a sword. All like, "Yeaaah boyeeee I can swallow anything I like, I'm the freakin' emperor!!"

Jukugo

皇帝(こうてい)

other country's emperor ★★☆☆☆
皇 (emperor) + 帝 (foreign emperor) = 皇帝 (other country's emperor)

emperor - like China, not like Japan. (BOOBOO: Japan's emperor is 天皇:てんのう.)

帝国(ていこく)

empire ★☆☆☆☆
帝 (foreign emperor) + 国 (country) = 帝国 (empire)

empire - in the literal, non-judgemental sense of 'having an emperor' (England, China, ancient Inca). I don't think 帝国 carries the bad nuance of 'imperialism' (i.e. warlike or colonialist).

Lookalikes

Meaning Hint Radical
帝 foreign emperor STAND 立
帯 belt MOUNTAIN 山

STAND UP to greet the emperor,
But tie your belt around a MOUNTAIN.

Used In