郎君 (láng jūn) — (historical, literary) term used by a wife to address her husband; (historical, literary) gentleman, young master

Definition

A historical/literary term, not used in modern speech. A wife calling her husband 郎君 conveys affection or formality; 公子 is a similar old-fashioned address for a young gentleman.

noun
(historical, literary) term used by a wife to address her husband(historical, literary) gentlemanyoung master

Examples

  • ，郎君。
    Zài gǔ dài, qī zi cháng chēng zhàng fu wèi láng jūn.
    In ancient times, wives often called their husbands 'langjun'.
  • 郎君，。
    Zhè wèi láng jūn fēng dù piān piān, yí kàn jiù shì dú shū rén.
    This gentleman is elegant and clearly a scholar.
  • 郎君，。
    láng jūn, Qǐng suí wǒ lái.
    My lord, please follow me.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

郎lángyoung man
君jūngentleman

郎 and 君 both refer to a man or gentleman; together they form a respectful term for a husband or young master.

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
邑邑yìcounty; town
Sound part声符shēngfú
良
良liáng郎láng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

郎 combines 良, which gives the sound, with 邑, meaning county or town.

Open 郎 →

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
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
尹
尹yǐn君jūn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

君 combines 尹 and 口. Early forms were often interchangeable with 尹, and 口 may show commands or simply be decorative.

Open 君 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.