About
The character 伯 is a phono-semantic compound, combining the person radical 亻 (rén) on the left, which indicates a connection to people or human relationships, with the component 白 (bái, white) on the right, which provides the phonetic element. Historically, it was used in familial and social hierarchies to denote the eldest brother among male siblings, marking the firstborn's senior status. From this association with primacy within a family, it extended to become the standard term for a father's older brother. This sense of seniority also carried into ancient noble ranks, where 伯 served as a title equivalent to an earl or a leading regional lord.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我的伯父很好。
伯母今天来了。
伯爵住在城堡里。
他是著名的伯乐。
大伯教我写书法。
伯父和伯母都退休了。
昨天伯乐发现了他的才能。
伯爵的古老城堡吸引了无数游客。