Definitions
(noun)
young man; youth
(noun)
minister; official
Etymology
Phonosemantic compound. ⻏ represents the meaning and 良 represents the sound. Originally a place name for what is now Shandong province. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
About
The character "郎" originated in early Chinese with a meaning tied to topography, specifically denoting a lane or alley within a settlement, as seen in its structural composition which combines the phonetic element "良" with the radical "阝", a form derived from "邑" that signifies a city or town. Its semantic path moved from this concrete spatial reference toward human designations, initially serving as a title for officials in feudal courts before broadening to address young men or husbands in social contexts. This shift solidified its contemporary usage primarily as a term for a son or a young male, now embedded in numerous compounds and personal names while its initial association with physical place has diminished.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
新郎今天很忙。
那个女郎是谁？
郎君在书房看书。
他和我是郎舅关系。
唐代有侍郎官职。
郎猫喜欢晚上活动。
郎医生治好了我的病。
据说那位郎侍郎为人正直。