The Chinese word **老爷 (lǎoye)** is a compound honorific term formed by combining the character **老 (lǎo)**, meaning "old" or "venerable," with **爷 (yé)**, meaning "master," "lord," or "grandfather." Historically, "爷" alone was a title of respect for male authority figures, and prefixing it with "老" intensified this respect, denoting an elderly male of high status, such as a feudal lord, senior official, or the master of a household. Over time, its usage expanded to include respectful references to gods (e.g., 土地老爷, the local earth god) and, in some dialects, to one's own grandfather. The term thus encapsulates a cultural deference to age, authority, and social hierarchy, often carrying connotations of traditional, patriarchal power.