About
The character 翁 is a phono-semantic compound with 羽 (feathers, wings) at the bottom and 公 at the top, which provides the phonetic element. Its original meaning referred to the feathers on a bird’s neck. Over time, this sense became obsolete, and the character was borrowed to mean an elderly man, a respected elder, or a father-in-law. Today, it is primarily used as a respectful or descriptive term for older men, having lost all connection to its early association with birds.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
那位老翁很健康。
一位渔翁在河边钓鱼。
故事里的富翁非常慷慨。
我们亲切地称他张翁。
这个不倒翁怎么也推不倒。
他们翁婿二人的关系十分融洽。
她过门后对翁姑照顾有加。
醉翁之意不在酒，在乎山水之间也。