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长辈 (zhǎng bèi) — one's elders; older generation

Definition

辈 refers to a generation within a family, so 长辈 means 'older family members' (parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents) — by blood or marriage, not by experience. Compare 前辈, which is an older colleague or mentor in a workplace or field.

noun
one's eldersolder generation
Measure word · 位

Examples

  • ，长辈。
    Zài chuán tǒng wén huà zhōng, zhǎng bèi de dì wèi hěn gāo.
    In traditional culture, elders hold a high status.
  • 长辈。
    Tā cóng xiǎo jiù hěn tīng zhǎng bèi de huà.
    He has always listened to his elders since childhood.
  • ，长辈。
    Guò nián shí, wǒ men dōu yào gěi zhǎng bèi bài nián.
    During the New Year, we all pay respects to the elders.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

长chángelder
辈bèigeneration

Combines 长 as older or elder with 辈 as generation to mean people from an older generation.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 長; 长 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 長 pictures an old man with long hair. The simplified 长 is a later shorthand, so its strokes do not show that original picture.

Open 长 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 輩; 辈 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jū
Sound part声符shēngfú
非
非fēi輩bèi
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輩 pairs 車 (vehicle) with 非, which gives the sound; this describes 輩, not the simplified 辈.

Open 辈 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Family & Kinship

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