王侯 (wáng hóu) — prince and marquis (specific noble titles); the nobility; the ruling elite (as a class)

Definition

王侯 refers to the hereditary nobility as a class — princes, marquises, and other titled lords — not just individual titles. Use it for the ruling elite as a group (as in 帝王将相 and 王侯将相).

noun
prince and marquis (specific noble titles)the nobilitythe ruling elite (as a class)

Examples

  • 王侯。
    Gǔ dài wáng hóu de zǐ sūn dà duō jì chéng jué wèi.
    In ancient times, descendants of princes and marquises mostly inherited titles.
  • ，王侯。
    Lì shǐ shàng xǔ duō yīng xióng chū shēn píng mín, hòu lái chéng le wáng hóu.
    Many heroes in history were born commoners and later became nobility.
  • 王侯。
    Shū zhōng miáo xiě le wáng hóu zhī jiān de quán lì dòu zhēng.
    The book depicts power struggles among the nobility.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

王wángking
侯hóumarquis

王 and 侯 name two noble ranks, together standing for the nobility.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 王 comes from a picture of a ritual axe, an object kept near a throne and connected with royal power.

Open 王 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

侯 comes from a picture of a target for arrows.

Open 侯 →

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