伯

bà, bǎi, bó

亻 + 白

Definitions

bó (noun) father's elder brother; paternal uncle; eldest brother

bó (noun) Count (nobility rank)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 白 represents the sound.

Semantic: 亻 Phonetic: 白

About

伯 is a phono-semantic compound: the left side 亻 (rén, "person") signals that the character relates to human relationships, while the right side 白 (bái, "white") provides the sound. Originally, in the rigid hierarchies of family and society, it designated the eldest brother among siblings, distinguishing him from the younger ones. This association with seniority led to its standard use as the kinship term for a father's older brother. The sense of primacy also extended into noble ranks, where 伯 became a title for an earl or a senior regional lord.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的伯父很好。

Wǒ de bófù hěn hǎo.

My uncle is very good.

伯母今天来了。

Bómǔ jīntiān lái le.

Aunt came today.

伯爵住在城堡里。

Bójué zhù zài chéngbǎo lǐ.

The earl lives in a castle.

他是著名的伯乐。

Tā shì zhùmíng de bólè.

He is a famous talent scout.

大伯教我写书法。

Dàbó jiāo wǒ xiě shūfǎ.

Eldest uncle teaches me calligraphy.

伯父和伯母都退休了。

Bófù hé bómǔ dōu tuìxiū le.

Both uncle and aunt have retired.

昨天伯乐发现了他的才能。

Zuótiān bólè fāxiàn le tā de cáinéng.

Yesterday, the talent scout discovered his talent.

伯爵的古老城堡吸引了无数游客。

Bójué de gǔlǎo chéngbǎo xīyǐn le wúshù yóukè.

The earl's ancient castle attracts countless tourists.

Related Characters

Component: 亻

Component: 白

伯