尚方寶劍 shàng fāng bǎo jiàn

DEFINITIONS

  1. variant of 尚方劍|尚方剑[shang4 fang1 jian4]
  2. imperial sword (giving bearer arbitrary powers)
  3. in fiction, Chinese version of 007's license to kill

CHARACTERS

尚 shàng still, yet; even; fairly, rather
方 fāng a square, rectangle; a region; local
寶 bǎo treasure, jewel; precious, rare
劍 jiàn sword, dagger, saber