Chinese word

伯伯

Pronunciation

Pinyinbó bo

Meaning

  • noununcle

Example

我的伯伯很和气。wǒ de bó bo hěn hé qì

My uncle is very kind.

Illustration for 伯伯 (uncle)

More examples

小孩子们喜欢跟伯伯一起玩。xiǎo hái zi men xǐ huān gēn bó bo yì qǐ wán

The children like playing with their uncle.

Core concept

Respectful family-style recognition of an older paternal relative, extended to familiar older men outside the family.

Common phrases

  • 拜访伯伯bài fǎng bó bo

    visit one's uncle

  • 向伯伯请教xiàng bó bo qǐng jiào

    seek one's uncle's advice

Similar words

伯父bó fù: A formal way to refer to one's father's older brother.
叔叔shū shū: A term for one's father's younger brother.
舅舅jiù jiù: A term for one's mother's brother.
亲戚qīn qī: A term for a family member related by blood or marriage.

Definition in Chinese

口语中对父亲的哥哥的称呼，也常用来亲切地称呼熟识或邻里的年长男性。kóu yǔ zhōng duì fù qīn dī gē gē de chēng hū yě cháng yòng lái qīn qiè dì chēng hū shú shí huò lín lǐ de nián zhǎng nán xìng

Word origin

伯伯 (bóbo, "uncle") repeats 伯 (bó, "father's elder brother") and preserves that kinship meaning in a softer everyday form of address.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may expect uncle to require a family relationship, but Chinese family terms can mark social closeness as well as actual kinship.

Other meanings

  • older paternal unclenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word