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尊长 (zūn zhǎng) — respected elders and senior superiors

Definition

A formal, classical term for one's elders and senior relatives or superiors by age/status. Strongly tied to traditional, hierarchical contexts — not used for casual everyday address.

noun
respected elders and senior superiors

Examples

  • ，尊长。
    Zài chuán tǒng shè huì lǐ, zūn zhǎng de dì wèi hěn gāo.
    In traditional society, elders and superiors held a high status.
  • 尊长。
    Wǒ men yīng dāng zūn zhòng zūn zhǎng de yì jiàn.
    We should respect the opinions of our elders and superiors.
  • 尊长，。
    Měi cì jiàn dào zūn zhǎng, wǒ dōu huì zhǔ dòng dǎ zhāo hu.
    Every time I see elders and superiors, I take the initiative to greet them.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

尊zūnrespected
长chángelder

尊 and 长 both refer to senior people, together meaning elders and betters.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape combines 寸 (hand) and 酋 (wine), showing a hand offering a wine vessel to express respect; some forms show two hands instead.

Open 尊 →

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 →
Appears in
Family & KinshipSocial Roles & Status

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