伯
chief, count, earl, uncle, Brazil
Readings
On'yomi
- ハク
Kun'yomi
—
Nanori
- いき
- えき
- か
- き
- は
- ひろ
Meaning
伯 centers on a person of high rank or seniority: a chief, a noble title like count or earl, or an elder male relative such as an uncle. The Brazil meaning is a modern abbreviation unrelated to the core idea.
Most common words using 伯
20 of 48- 伯父さんおじさんN5
uncle
- 伯爵はくしゃく
count; earl
- 伯父えおじ
uncle (one's father's older brother)
- 伯はく
count; earl
- 画伯がはく
master painter; great artist
- 伯母さんおばさんN5
aunt
- 伯楽ばくろう
cattle or horse trader; good judge of horses or cattle
- 伯耆ほうき
Hōki (former province located in the central and western parts of present-day Tottori Prefecture)
- 伯備線はくびせん
Hakubi Line (West Tottori-Okayama railway)
- 伯仲はくちゅう
being evenly matched; being equal with; being on a par with; being well contested
- サンパウロ日伯援護協会サンパウロにっぱくえんごきょうかい
Beneficência Nipo-Brasileira de São Paulo (Japanese association in Brazil)
- モンテクリスト伯モンテクリストはく
The Count of Monte Cristo (1844 novel by Alexandre Dumas)
- 伯亜はくあ
Brazil and Argentina; Brazilian-Argentine
- 伯人はくじん
Brazilian (person)
- 伯兄はっけい
the eldest son
- 伯叔はくしゅく
brothers; one's father's brothers
- 伯国はっこく
Brazil
- 伯夫人はくふじん
countess
- 伯家神道はっけしんとう
Hakke Shinto (Shinto tradition transmitted by the House of Hakuo Shirakawa); Hakuke Shinto
- 伯母ちゃんおばちゃん
auntie; older woman
Study
Etymology
伯 combines 亻 (person) with 白, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to a senior male relative or a feudal rank.
Meaning mnemonic
A person 亻 beside 白 (white) suggests an elder with white hair, like a chief or uncle.
Reading mnemonic
For ハク, imagine a chief wearing a white hakama: hak -> ハク, and the white garment matches the 白 component.