Definition
老爷 (lǎo ye, with neutral tone on 爷) is a noun with two main uses. Historically, it was a respectful term for a master, lord, or high-ranking official in imperial China, often used by servants or subordinates. In some northern dialects, it also means 'maternal grandfather' (like 姥爷). In modern colloquial context, it can carry a sarcastic tone, referring to someone who acts like an entitled boss or an old man sitting idle. The neutral tone on 爷 is crucial; don't pronounce it as lǎo yé.
n.
(historical) masterlordsir (term of address for a high-ranking man or employer)(dialectal) maternal grandfathergrandpa
Examples
- 老爷。Jiā lǐ de púrén dōu chēng tā wéi lǎo ye.The servants at home all called him 'master'.
- 老爷，。Wǒ xiǎo shíhou cháng qù lǎo ye jiā wán, tā zǒng gěi wǒ táng chī.When I was little, I often played at Grandpa's house, and he always gave me candy.
- 老爷，。Tā dōu tuìxiū le hái tiāntiān bǎi lǎo ye jiàzi, shuí dōu bú yuànyì lǐ tā.He's already retired but still puts on airs like a lord; nobody wants to deal with him.
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