Despotism is rule by a despot: a system in which one person holds great power and uses it in a cruel and unfair way. It names the arrangement, not the man or woman on the throne.

Despotism is rule by a despotDespotism指的是由despot暴君統治： a system in which one person holds great power and uses it in a cruel and unfair way一種一個人掌握巨大權力，並且殘酷不公平地使用它的制度。It names the arrangement它指的是這種制度安排， not the man or woman on the throne不是坐在王位上的那個人。

You meet it in history and political writing — a fight against despotism, years of despotism, the evils of despotism. It can also mean that style of control more generally, even when people are talking about a workplace, though that is a stretch from the political core.

You meet it in history and political writing你會在歷史和政治相關的文章裡遇到它—— a fight against despotism, years of despotism, the evils of despotism像是a fight against despotism、years of despotism、the evils of despotism。It can also mean that style of control more generally它也可以比較廣泛地指那種控制的風格， even when people are talking about a workplace就算人們是在講一個職場也一樣， though that is a stretch from the political core不過那已經是從政治核心意義延伸出去的用法了。

Though actually, history books also speak of enlightened despotism: rulers who kept almost all the power but claimed to use it for the people’s good. That phrase does not make the rule kind in our ordinary sense; it only marks a debate about whether total power was ever used well.

Though actually不過其實， history books also speak of enlightened despotism歷史書也會講到enlightened despotism開明專制： rulers who kept almost all the power but claimed to use it for the people's good那些幾乎握有全部權力，卻聲稱是為了人民福祉而使用權力的統治者。That phrase does not make the rule kind in our ordinary sense這個說法並不會讓這種統治在我們一般的意義上變得仁慈； it only marks a debate about whether total power was ever used well它只是標示出一個爭論——全部的權力到底有沒有被好好使用過。

In everyday English, dictatorship is the more common news word; despotism sounds a little older and more literary.

In everyday English在日常英文裡， dictatorship is the more common news worddictatorship獨裁是新聞裡比較常用的字； despotism sounds a little older and more literarydespotism聽起來比較古老，也比較文學性。