seniority among generations; generational rank
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
seniority or order among generations within a family or clan; generational rank
formalUsed to distinguish between older and younger generations, particularly in traditional family structures. Often used with terms like 大 (higher), 小 (lower), or specific generational names (e.g., "辈"字 in genealogical poetry). The colloquial diminutive "儿" is sometimes added.
Zài在
zhè这
ge个
dà大
jiā家
zú族
lǐ里
，
tā他
de的
bān班
bèi辈
hěn很
gāo高
，
xǔ许
duō多
bǐ比
tā他
nián年
jì纪
dà大
de的
rén人
dōu都
déi得
jiào叫
tā他
shū叔
shu叔
。
In this large clan, his generational rank is very high; many people older than him have to call him uncle.
Tā他
men们
suī虽
rán然
tóng同
xìng姓
，
dàn但
bān班
bèi辈
bù不
tóng同
，
bù不
néng能
suí随
biàn便
chēng称
hū呼
。
Although they share the same surname, their generational ranks differ, so they cannot address each other casually.
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Àn按
bān班
bèi辈
r儿
suàn算
，
wǒ我
shì是
tā他
de的
zēng曾
sūn孙
bèi辈
le了
。
Counting by generational rank, I am of his great-grandson's generation.