支配

• Pinyin: zhī pèi
• Hanzi breakdown: 支 = to distribute/branch; 配 = 酉 (wine vessel) + 己 (self), meaning to allocate

Meaning

To control; to dominate; to allocate. To have power over something or direct its use.

Used for controlling resources, time, or behavior. Common phrases: 支配权 (control rights), 支配时间 (manage time), 自由支配 (freely allocate). Can also mean to dominate or govern.

Examples

1. 员工可以自由支配自己的午休时间。 Employees can freely use their lunch break time.
2. 这笔资金由财务部门统一支配。 This fund is uniformly allocated by the finance department.
3. 人的行为往往受情绪支配。 Human behavior is often controlled by emotions.

Usage Guide

Context: management, psychology, resources

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你可以自由支配这笔钱。(You can freely use this money.)
• 不要让情绪支配你的决定。(Don't let emotions control your decisions.)

Don't Say

• 支配一个人去做 (支配 implies authority/control — for asking someone to do something, use 安排 or 派)

Origin & History

Compound of 支 (to distribute, branch) and 配 (to allocate, match). To distribute and allocate.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal