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伯父 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
伯父bófùfather's elder brotherHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #19394, Very Hard
伯父bófùterm of respect for older manHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #19394, Very Hard
bófù(bo2fu4)bo fu T2
  1. 1father's elder brother
  2. 2term of respect for older man
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March 24, 2026

伯父bófù(bo2fu4)

伯父 (bó fù) refers to a father's elder brother, representing an important familial relationship in Chinese culture. It is also used as a term of respect for older men, emphasizing the value placed on age and wisdom within society.

Strokes11Frequency#19394DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, familial hierarchy is deeply respected, and terms like 伯父 play a significant role in maintaining social norms and respect within the family structure.

Memory tip

Imagine a wise old man (伯) sitting on a big throne (父) to symbolize his status as the elder brother. The pronunciation 'bo' can be linked to 'bowl' which is often served to older relatives during family gatherings, while 'fu' can remind you of 'father', connecting it to familial respect.

Meanings of 伯父

bófù(bo2fu4)
1father's elder brother
2term of respect for older man
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About 伯父

伯父Simplified
11Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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Podcast: 伯父

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AI study notes for 伯父

Quick Contrast

叔叔 (shūshu) refers to a father's younger brother; use 伯父 when referring to the elder brother.

Usage Notes

When addressing someone as 伯父, ensure that they are indeed older; otherwise, it may come off as disrespectful. This term is commonly used in formal situations or when discussing family relations, but it's less common in casual conversation. Be mindful of the tones, as mispronouncing them could change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Though 伯父 is not an HSK word, it connects to HSK vocabulary around family relationships. Students should focus on understanding family hierarchy in Chinese culture, as this will help when learning other terms related to relatives.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 伯父 too casually or for younger men, which can be seen as disrespectful. For example, saying 伯父 to a man who is younger than your father is incorrect; use 叔叔 (shū shu) instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 伯父

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Component characters

伯bàone hundred (old)
7 strokes亻
View full entry
父fùfather
4 strokes父
View full entry

How to say father's elder brother in Chinese

“father's elder brother” in Chinese is伯父bófù

伯父 (bó fù) refers to a father's elder brother, representing an important familial relationship in Chinese culture. It is also used as a term of respect for older men, emphasizing the value placed on age and wisdom within society.

When to use 伯父

When addressing someone as 伯父, ensure that they are indeed older; otherwise, it may come off as disrespectful. This term is commonly used in formal situations or when discussing family relations, but it's less common in casual conversation. Be mindful of the tones, as mispronouncing them could change the meaning entirely.

伯父 or something close to it

叔叔 (shūshu) refers to a father's younger brother; use 伯父 when referring to the elder brother.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is using 伯父 too casually or for younger men, which can be seen as disrespectful. For example, saying 伯父 to a man who is younger than your father is incorrect; use 叔叔 (shū shu) instead.

Write 伯父

伯
父

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Frequently asked questions about 伯父

No, 伯父 specifically refers to the father's elder brother. Your mother's brother would be called 舅舅 (jiù jiu).

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