汗國 (Khanate) 是突厥-蒙古語指由可汗所領導的政治實體,主要是指在歐亞大陸的遊牧民族的,等同部落酋長領地、王國甚至帝國,規模不同。
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khanate
Khanate, or Chanat, is a Turco-Mongolian-originated word used to describe a political entity ruled by a Khan. In modern Turkish, the word used is kağanlık, and in modern Azeri of the republic of Azerbaijan, xanlıq. In Mongolian the word khanlig is used, as in "Khereidiin Khanlig" meaning the Khanate of the Kerait. This political entity is typical for people from the Eurasian Steppe and it can be equivalent to tribal chiefdom, principality, kingdom or even empire.