tycoon: [19] Japanese taikun was a title used for the military commander or shogun of Japan, particularly by his supporters when addressing foreigners, in the attempt to convey the impression that he was more powerful and important than the emperor. For it meant literally ‘great prince, emperor’. It was borrowed from ancient Chinese t’ai kiuən ‘emperor’, a compound formed from t’ai ‘great’ and kiuən ‘prince’. English acquired it in the 1850s, and it began to be used more generally for a ‘highranking personage’ in the USA soon afterwards. The specific application to businessmen seems to have evolved after World War I.
1857, title given by foreigners to the shogun of Japan (said to have been used by his supporters when addressing foreigners, as an attempt to convey that the shogun was more important than the emperor), from Japanese taikun "great lord or prince," from Chinese tai "great" + kiun "lord." Transferred meaning "important person" is attested from 1861, in reference to U.S. president Abraham Lincoln (in the diary of his secretary, John Hay); specific application to "wealthy and powerful businessman" is post-World War I.
双语例句
1. The late newspaper tycoon is condemned for his ruthless treatment of employees.
已故的报业大亨因为残忍地对待员工而遭到谴责。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The tycoon is on the verge of bankruptcy.
那名大亨濒临破产的边缘.
来自《简明英汉词典》
3. The dead tycoon's sons will remain in their plush offices overseeing the death throes of the family empire.
这位已故大亨的儿子们将坐在豪华的办公室里，目睹这个家族帝国崩溃前的痛苦挣扎。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The high - salaried manager replaced the business tycoon.
高薪经理取代了企业巨头.
来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
5. The high - salaried manager replaced the swaggering tycoon.
