伯父 bófù father's elder brother
father's elder brother; term of respect for older man
How to remember 伯父: 伯 older brother + 父 father = father's elder brother.
Characters
How it is used
- Father's elder brother (formal); respectful term for an older man - 这是我伯父 (zhè shì wǒ bófù) this is my uncle (dad's older brother).
- 伯父 is the written/formal form; 伯伯 the spoken, affectionate one.
- Distinguishes birth order: 伯 = elder, 叔 = younger uncle on the father's side.