晚辈 (wǎn bèi) — younger generation (in a family or social hierarchy); one's juniors

Definition

A junior or younger member in a family or social hierarchy — the counterpart to 长辈 ('elders/seniors'). Used to show respect when referring to oneself or one's status relative to older relatives.

noun
younger generation (in a family or social hierarchy)one's juniors

Examples

  • ，晚辈。
    Zuò wéi zhǎng bèi, wǒ men yīng gāi guān xīn wǎn bèi.
    As elders, we should care for the younger generation.
  • 晚辈，。
    Tā suī rán shì wǎn bèi, dàn hěn yǒu néng lì.
    Although he is from the younger generation, he is very capable.
  • 晚辈。
    Jiā lǐ de wǎn bèi dōu hěn zūn jìng zhè wèi lǎo rén.
    The younger generation in the family all respect this elderly person.

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.

晚wǎnyounger
辈bèigeneration

晚 younger describes the 辈 generation, giving one's juniors.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
日日rì
Sound part声符shēngfú
免
免miǎn晚wǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

晚 pairs 日, the sun part, with 免, which supplies the sound.

Open 晚 →

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 →

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