Definitions

(noun) grandpa; grandfather
(noun) elderly man

Etymology

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

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The traditional character "爺" is structured with the semantic component "父" meaning father and the phonetic component "耶", indicating its original denotation of paternal figures such as father or grandfather. Over time, its application extended to address respected elder males or persons in authority, broadening beyond familial contexts. The simplified form "爷" maintains the "父" component but substitutes "耶" with the radical "卩", altering the character's composition. Semantic shifts further led to its use in referring to masters or bosses, and in modern colloquial usage, it often conveys nuances of dominance or emphatic expression.

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.