本義為人的頭，比喻天子、君主。在古人看來，國家的權力結構好比人體，而君主則好比頭腦，臣子好比肢體。君最尊貴，也很重要，甚至對國家的命運有決定性影響；但君臣又是一體的，他們相互依存，彼此配合，同理國事，榮辱與共。這種認識隱含國家有機整體論的萌芽。近代以降，該詞仍指國家最高領導人，但其概念的外延擴大了，既包括世襲制的皇帝、國王等，也包括選舉制的國家主席、總統等。

The term originally meant the head of a person. Metaphorically, it refers to the Son of Heaven, or the ruler. The ancient Chinese likened the power structure of a country to the body of a person, with the ruler functioning as its head, the officials as its body. The ruler was highly esteemed and the most important person, often exerting a crucial influence on the fate of a country. Yet, the ruler and his officials were parts of the same body. They depended on each other, worked collaboratively, handled state affairs together, and shared a common stake. Such an understanding was a nascent view that considered a country as an integral whole. Since modern times began, this term has come to mean the leader of a country, whether an emperor or a king who has inherited the throne, or the elected president of a country.

引例 Citations：

◎君為元首，臣為股肱，同體相須，共成美惡者也。（《后漢書·陳蕃傳》）

君王好比是人的腦袋，臣子好比是人的大腿和胳膊。他們是一個相互依存的整體，共同影響國家治理的好壞。

The ruler is like the head of a person, and officials are like his arms and legs. They are mutually dependent parts of an organic whole, collectively responsible for the success or failure of a country's governance. (The History of the Later Han Dynasty)

◎夫帝王者，萬國之元首，天下之所系命也。（《三國志·吳書·薛綜傳》）

帝王是天下萬國的元首，關系全天下人的命運。

The emperor is the head of all the states under heaven, who determines the fate of all under heaven. (The History of the Three Kingdoms)

◎天子尊崇，故稱元首；臣鄰輔翼，故曰股肱。（程登吉《幼學瓊林·朝廷》）

天子地位尊貴，所以稱“元首”；臣子居輔助地位，所以稱“股肱”。

The Son of Heaven reigns supreme, so he is called the head of state. His officials are likened the arms and legs because they assist him in exercising governance. (Cheng Dengji: Scholarly Learning for Children)

推薦：教育部 國家語委

供稿：北京外國語大學 外語教學與研究出版社

責任編輯：錢耐安