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老爷子 (lǎo yé zǐ) — respectful term for an elderly man (addressing or referring); (dialectal) one's father (familiar, respectful)

Definition

A respectful term for an elderly man, or (in some regions, to one's own father) a fond, respectful 'Dad'. Use the polite classifier 位. Calling a stranger 老爷子 flatters; calling your own father conveys affection.

noun
respectful term for an elderly man (addressing or referring)(dialectal) one's father (familiar, respectful)
Measure word · 位

Examples

  • 老爷子，。
    lǎo yé zǐ, Nín màn zǒu.
    Take care, old gentleman.
  • 老爷子？
    Nǐ jiā lǎo yé zǐ shēn tǐ zěn me yàng?
    How is your father's health?
  • 老爷子。
    Xiǎo qū lǐ de nà wèi lǎo yé zǐ měi tiān dōu lái sàn bù.
    That elderly gentleman in our neighborhood comes for a walk every day.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

老爷elderly man or father
老lǎoold爷yéfather/elderly man
偏正Modifier + head
子zǐfamiliar feel

老爷 denotes an elderly man or father, and 子 adds a familiar, colloquial feel.

Characters in this word

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

The shape 老 combines 人 (man), 毛 (hair), and 匕 (cane), showing a man with long hair leaning on a cane.

Open 老 →

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 爺; 爷 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
父父fùfather
Sound part声符shēngfú
耶
耶yē爺yé
Same sound today

The traditional form 爺 combines 父, meaning father, with 耶 as a sound part; the simplified 爷 is a later shorthand, so its visible pieces do not carry that original role.

Open 爷 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
Identity & Titles

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