Definitions
(noun)
marquis; nobleman
Etymology
Pictograph of an arrow (矢) hitting a target. Based on the original meaning "target (archery)". The meaning of this character has shifted over time and now means "marquis", likely because archery was associated with people of high ranking.
About
The character "侯" originated in early Chinese culture as a term for an archery target, with its structural composition of the person radical "亻" and the component "矢" meaning arrow, collectively implying a human association with the act of shooting. This initial reference to a ritual object naturally extended to denote the noble figure presiding over such ceremonies, thereby shifting its meaning from a physical artifact to a social title. Over time, the character's semantic focus solidified around the concept of a feudal lord or marquis, reflecting the holder's martial role and elevated status within hierarchical systems, and while its usage expanded into surnames and compound terms, its core signification and graphical form remained essentially unchanged.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
侯老师教语文。
侯爵拥有大片土地。
昨天侯先生来了。
诸侯国之间常战争。
这位侯爵非常慷慨。
侯先生虽然年轻，但很有经验。
在古代，侯爵是贵族称号。
当侯先生抵达时，我们正在讨论这个计划。