Definitions

(noun) grandpa; grandfather
(noun) elderly man

Etymology

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "爷", with its traditional form "爺", is built from the component "父" denoting father, combined with "耶" which historically served a phonetic role, and its meaning initially centered on paternal figures such as one's father or grandfather. Over time, the term's application widened to address or reference men of social standing or advanced age, incorporating a layer of respect as seen in titles like "老爷" for a lord or master. The simplified form "爷" retains the essential "父" element while reconfiguring the character's right side, resulting in a structurally less complex graph. In present-day usage, the character primarily denotes grandfather within family relations, yet its earlier honorific nuances persist in certain set expressions and informal forms of address.

Example Sentences Hide

在公园散步。

Yéye zài gōngyuán sànbù.

Grandpa is taking a walk in the park.

和爸爸都来了。

Wǒ yéye hé bàba dōu lái le.

My grandpa and my dad both came.

是我们的老邻居。

Zhāng yéye shì wǒmen de lǎo línjū.

Grandpa Zhang is our old neighbor.

他姥以前是位老师。

Tā lǎoye yǐqián shì wèi lǎoshī.

His maternal grandfather used to be a teacher.

这位老是戏里的主要人物。

Zhè wèi lǎoye shì xì lǐ de zhǔyào rénwù.

This lord is the main character in the play.

北方人常说“们儿”这个词。

Běifāng rén cháng shuō "yémenr" zhège cí.

Northerners often say the word "menfolk" or "bloke".

她姑对家里人非常客气。

Tā gūye duì jiālǐ rén fēicháng kèqi.

Her son-in-law is very polite to the family members.

剧中的阔少总是挥金如土。

Jù zhōng de kuò shàoyé zǒng shì huī jīn rú tǔ.

The rich young master in the drama always spends money like water.