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侯爵 (hóu jué) — marquis

Definition

A title in the European-style feudal nobility, ranking below 公爵 (duke) and above 伯爵 (earl). Refers to both the person holding the title and the rank itself.

noun
marquis
Measure word · 位

Examples

  • 侯爵。
    Zhè wèi hóu jué shì ōu zhōu guì zú de yì yuán.
    This marquis is a member of the European nobility.
  • 侯爵。
    Tā zài xiǎo shuō zhōng bàn yǎn yí wèi hóu jué.
    He plays a marquis in the novel.
  • 侯爵。
    hóu jué De jué wèi tōng cháng kě yǐ shì xí.
    The title of marquis is usually hereditary.

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.

侯hóumarquis
爵juétitle/rank

侯 names the marquis rank and 爵 indicates a title, together referring to the rank of marquis.

Characters in this word

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 →

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

爵 originally pictured a sparrow-shaped wine vessel, sometimes with a hand holding it. In the modern form, the vessel's parts were reshaped and separated.

Open 爵 →
Appears in
HistoryIdentity & Titles

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