seniority; generational ranking
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
seniority; generational ranking in a clan or family
formalA formal term used to denote one's position in the generational hierarchy, often determined by birth order within a lineage. Crucial for understanding traditional kinship terms and forms of address.
Zài在
dà大
jiā家
zú族
zhōng中
，
bèi辈
háng行
jué决
dìng定
le了
xiāng相
hù互
jiān间
de的
chēng称
hū呼
。
In large clans, seniority determines how members address each other.
Tā他
suī虽
rán然
nián年
jì纪
xiǎo小
，
dàn但
bèi辈
háng行
hěn很
gāo高
，
shì是
tā他
de的
shū叔
shu叔
bèi辈
。
Although he is young, his generational ranking is high; he is of the uncle generation.
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Xiū修
jiā家
pǔ谱
shí时
，
shǒu首
xiān先
yào要
lí厘
qīng清
měi每
gè个
rén人
de的
bèi辈
háng行
。
When compiling a family genealogy, the first step is to clarify each person's generational rank.