侯

TranslingualEdit

Stroke order

Han characterEdit

侯 (Kangxi radical 9, 人+7, 9 strokes, cangjie input 人弓一大 (ONMK), four-corner 2723₄, composition ⿰亻⿱⿱𠃍一矢 or ⿰亻⿱⿱乛一矢)

Derived charactersEdit

喉, 猴, 堠, 帿, 瘊, 睺, 篌, 糇, 緱/缑, 葔, 鍭/𬭤, 餱/𫗯, 鄇, 㢿, 㬋, 㮢, 䂉, 䗔, 䙈, 䞀/𬥽, 䫛, 翭, 鯸, 䳧/𪃶/𫛺, 𠋫, 𡗁, 𡟑, 𡹵, 𪹍, 𢜵, 𢰡, 𣣠, 𤧝, 𤬈, 𥀃, 𦑤, 𦞈, 𧇹, 𧩨, 𧯁, 𨂸, 𩃺, 𩋴, 𩘋, 𩩵, 𪈱, 𪑻

ReferencesEdit

KangXi: page 103, character 7
Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 633
Dae Jaweon: page 218, character 20
Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 167, character 1
Unihan data for U+4FAF

ChineseEdit

trad.		侯
simp. ^#		侯
2nd round simp.		𫶬
alternative forms		矦 ancient form 𥎦 ancient form 𬾗 historical variant 𬾃 historical variant

Wikipedia has articles on:

侯姓 (Written Standard Chinese^?)
Hou (surname) (English)

Glyph originEdit

Historical forms of the character 侯

Shang

Western Zhou

Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)

Liushutong (compiled in Ming)

Oracle bone script

Bronze inscriptions

Small seal script

Transcribed ancient scripts

**Oracle bone script**
j13283	j13284	j13285	j13286	j13287	j13288	j13289	j13290
j13291	j13292	j13293	j13294	j13295	j13296	j13297	j13298
j13299	j13300	j13301	j13302	j13303	j13304	j13305	j13306
j13307	j13308	j13309	j13310	j13311	j13312	j13313	j13314
j13315	j13316	j13317	j13318	j13319	j13320	j13321	j13322
j13323	j13324	j13325	j13326	j13327	j13328	j13329	j13330
j13331	j13332	j13333	j13334	j13335	j13336	j13337	j13338
j13339	j13340	j13341	j13342	j13343	j13344	j13345	j13346
j13347	j13348	j13349	j13350	j13351	j13352	j13353	j13354
j13355	j13356	j13357	j13358	j13359	j13360	j13361	j13362
j13363	j13364

**Bronze inscriptions**
b08167	b08168	b08169	b08170	b08171	b08172	b08173	b08174
b08175	b08176	b08177	b08178	b08179	b08180	b08181	b08182
b08183	b08184	b08185	b08186	b08187	b08188	b08189	b08190
b08191	b08192	b08193	b08194	b08195	b08196	b08197	b08198
b08199	b08200	b08201	b08202	b08203	b08204	b08205	b08206
b08207	b08208	b08209	b08210	b08211	b08213	b08214	b08215
b08216	b08217	b08218	b08219	b08220	b08221	b08222	b08223
b08224	b08225	b08226	b08227	b08228	b08229	b08230	b08231
b08232	b08233	b08234	b08235	b08236	b08237	b08238	b08239
b08240	b08241	b08242	b08243	b08244	b08245	b08246	b08247
b08248

**Transcribed ancient scripts**
L33678	L33679	L33680	L33681	L33682	L33683	L33684	L33685
L33686	L33687	L33688	L12079	L12080	L12081	L12082	L12083
L12084	L12085	L12086	L12087	L12088	L12089	L12090	L12091
L12092	L12093	L12094	L12095	L12096	L12097	L12098	L12099
L12100	L12101	L12102

References:

Mostly from Richard Sears' Chinese Etymology site (authorisation),
which in turn draws data from various collections of ancient forms of Chinese characters, including:

Shuowen Jiezi (small seal),
Jinwen Bian (bronze inscriptions),
Liushutong (Liushutong characters) and
Yinxu Jiaguwen Bian (oracle bone script).

Characters in the same phonetic series (侯) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
緱	koː, koː
侯	*ɡoː
喉	*ɡoː
猴	*ɡoː
瘊	*ɡoː
篌	*ɡoː
糇	*ɡoː
帿	*ɡoː
睺	ɡoː, ɡoːs
矦	*ɡoː
餱	*ɡoː
翭	*ɡoː
葔	*ɡoː
鄇	ɡoː, ɡoːs
鍭	ɡoː, ɡoːs
鯸	*ɡoː
候	*ɡoːs
堠	*ɡoːs

Pictogram (象形)

EtymologyEdit

"target" > "prince, marquis": 侯 (OC *ɡoː)'s connection to archery is noted by Schuessler (2007), Theobald (2017)[1], Goldin (2021), etc. Goldin further relates it to 鍭 (OC *ɡoː, *ɡoːs, “arrow with metal tip”), which Schuessler instead relates to 后 (OC *ɡoːʔ, *ɡoːs).

Schuessler (2007) proposes an Austroasiatic etymology, comparing 侯 (OC *ɡoː) to Khmer គាស់ (kŏəh, “to raise (a crossbow) with a view to aiming”), Khmer [script needed] (kpoḥ, “to be raised up, clearly visible”), & Khmer [script needed] (goḥ, “to hit (squarely)”).

When meaning "target > prince, marquis", possibly distinct from 后 (OC *ɡoːʔ, *ɡoːs, “(head >) ruler > queen”) (Schuessler, 2007; Goldin, 2021).

Its derivatives, from sense "target (n.) > to target (v.)", are 候 (OC *ɡoːs) & 觀 (OC *koːn, *koːns), both meaning "to watch" (Schuessler, 2007); contra Lau (1999), who thinks sense "to watch" to be fundamental and "target; lord, marquis" to be derivatives..

"to be; to have": Austroasiatic (Schuessler, 2007). Compare Proto-Vietic *kɔːʔ (“to have, to be”) and Proto-Monic *gooʔ (“to get, to possess”); compare also Jingpho gu³¹ (“to have”).

Pronunciation 1Edit

Mandarin
(Standard)
(Pinyin): hóu (hou²)

(Zhuyin): ㄏㄡˊ

(Chengdu, SP): hou²
Cantonese (Jyutping): hau⁴
Gan (Wiktionary): heu²
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): hèu

(Meixian, Guangdong): hêu²
Jin (Wiktionary): hou¹
Min Bei (KCR): ě
Min Dong (BUC): hèu
Min Nan
(Hokkien, POJ): hô͘ / hiô / kâu / hâu

(Teochew, Peng'im): hou⁵ / gao⁵
Wu (Wiktionary): ³hhu
Xiang (Wiktionary): hou²

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: hóu
  - Zhuyin: ㄏㄡˊ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: hóu
  - Wade–Giles: hou²
  - Yale: hóu
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: hour
  - Palladius: хоу (xou)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /xoʊ̯³⁵/
- (Chengdu)
  - Sichuanese Pinyin: hou²
  - Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: xou
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /xəu²¹/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
  - Jyutping: hau⁴
  - Yale: hàuh
  - Cantonese Pinyin: hau⁴
  - Guangdong Romanization: heo⁴
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /hɐu̯²¹/
Gan
- (Nanchang)
  - Wiktionary: heu²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /hɛu²⁴/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: hèu
  - Hakka Romanization System: heuˇ
  - Hagfa Pinyim: heu²
  - Sinological IPA: /heu̯¹¹/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: hêu²
  - Sinological IPA: /heu¹¹/
Jin
- (Taiyuan)⁺
  - Wiktionary: hou¹
  - Sinological IPA (old-style): /xəu¹¹/
Min Bei
- (Jian'ou)
  - Kienning Colloquial Romanized: ě
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /e²¹/
Min Dong
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: hèu
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /hɛu⁵³/
Min Nan
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hô͘
  - Tâi-lô: hôo
  - Phofsit Daibuun: hoo
  - IPA (Xiamen, Taipei): /hɔ²⁴/
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /hɔ²³/
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /hɔ¹³/
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Jinjiang)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hiô
  - Tâi-lô: hiô
  - Phofsit Daibuun: hiooi
  - IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang): /hio²⁴/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kâu
  - Tâi-lô: kâu
  - Phofsit Daibuun: kaau
  - IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou): /kau²⁴/
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /kau¹³/
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hâu
  - Tâi-lô: hâu
  - Phofsit Daibuun: haau
  - IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Taipei): /hau²⁴/
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /hau²³/

Note:

hô͘/hiô - literary (incl. surname in Xiamen and Zhangzhou);
kâu - vernacular (incl. surname, dated in Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou);
hâu - vernacular (incl. surname in Quanzhou and Taiwan).

(Teochew)
- Peng'im: hou⁵ / gao⁵
- Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: hôu / kâu
- Sinological IPA ^(key): /hou⁵⁵/, /kau⁵⁵/

Note:

hou5 - all senses (incl. surname);
gao5 - surname.

Wu

(Shanghainese)
- Wiktionary: ³hhu
- Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɦv̩ʷ²³/

Xiang

(Changsha)
- Wiktionary: hou²
- Sinological IPA ^(key): /xəu¹³/

Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 侯
Mandarin	Beijing	/xou³⁵/
	Harbin	/xou²⁴/
	Tianjin	/xou⁴⁵/
	Jinan	/xou⁴²/
	Qingdao	/xou⁴²/
	Zhengzhou	/xou⁴²/
	Xi'an	/xou²⁴/
	Xining	/xɯ²⁴/
	Yinchuan	/xəu⁵³/
	Lanzhou	/xou⁵³/
	Ürümqi	/xɤu⁵¹/
	Wuhan	/xəu²¹³/
	Chengdu	/xəu³¹/
	Guiyang	/xəu²¹/
	Kunming	/xəu³¹/
	Nanjing	/xəɯ²⁴/
	Hefei	/xɯ⁵⁵/
Jin	Taiyuan	/xəu¹¹/
	Pingyao	/xəu¹³/
	Hohhot	/xəu³¹/
Wu	Shanghai	/ɦɤ²³/
	Suzhou	/ɦɤ¹³/
	Hangzhou	/ɦei²¹³/
	Wenzhou	/ɦau³¹/
Hui	Shexian	/xiu⁴⁴/
Hui	Tunxi
Xiang	Changsha	/xəu¹³/
Xiang	Xiangtan	/ɦəɯ¹²/
Gan	Nanchang	/hɛu²⁴/
Hakka	Meixian	/heu¹¹/
Hakka	Taoyuan	/heu¹¹/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/hɐu²¹/
	Nanning	/hɐu²¹/
	Hong Kong	/hɐu²¹/
Min	Xiamen (Min Nan)	/hɔ³⁵/ /kau³⁵/
	Fuzhou (Min Dong)	/hɛu⁵³/
	Jian'ou (Min Bei)	/e²¹/
	Shantou (Min Nan)	/hou⁵⁵/
	Haikou (Min Nan)	/hɔu³¹/

Middle Chinese: /ɦəu/

Rime
Character	侯
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	匣 (33)
Final (韻)	侯 (137)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	I
Fanqie	戸鉤切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ɦəu/
Pan Wuyun	/ɦəu/
Shao Rongfen	/ɣəu/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ɦəw/
Li Rong	/ɣu/
Wang Li	/ɣəu/
Bernard Karlgren	/ɣə̯u/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	hóu
Expected Cantonese Reflex	hau⁴

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*[ɡ]ˤ(r)o/

(Zhengzhang): /*ɡoː/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	侯
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	hóu
Middle Chinese	‹ huw ›
Old Chinese	/*[ɡ]ˁ(r)o/
English	feudal lord
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	侯
Reading #	1/1
No.	5139
Phonetic component	侯
Rime group	侯
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime
Old Chinese	/*ɡoː/
Notes	矦隸變

DefinitionsEdit

侯

marquis; lord
- 王者之制：祿爵，公、侯、伯、子、男，凡五等。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  王者之制：禄爵，公、侯、伯、子、男，凡五等。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Book of Rites, c. 4^th – 2^nd century BCE
  Wángzhě zhī zhì: lùjué, gōng, hóu, bó, zǐ, nán, fán wǔděng. [Pinyin]
  According to the regulations of emolument and rank framed by the kings, there were the duke; the marquis; the earl; the count; and the baron - in all, five gradations (of rank).
(obsolete) target
- 終日射侯 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
  终日射侯 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Zhōngrì shè hóu [Pinyin]
  Shooting all day at the target
(obsolete) to be, to have
- 山有嘉卉、侯栗侯梅。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
  From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Shān yǒu jiāhuì, hóu lì hóu méi. [Pinyin]
  On the mountains are fine trees, - there are chestnut trees and there are plum trees.
a surname
侯孝賢／侯孝贤 ― Hóu Xiàoxián ― Hou Hsiao-hsien (Taiwanese film director)

CompoundsEdit

DescendantsEdit

Sino-Xenic (侯):

→ Japanese: 侯(こう) (kō, “marquess”)
→ Korean: 후(侯) (hu, “marquess”)
→ Vietnamese: hầu (侯, “marquess”)

Others:

→ Manchu: ᡥᡝᠣ (heo)

Pronunciation 2Edit

Mandarin
(Pinyin): hòu (hou⁴)

(Zhuyin): ㄏㄡˋ
Cantonese (Jyutping): hau⁶
Min Nan
(Hokkien, POJ): hô͘ / hō͘ / hāu

(Teochew, Peng'im): hao⁷

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: hòu
  - Zhuyin: ㄏㄡˋ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: hòu
  - Wade–Giles: hou⁴
  - Yale: hòu
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: how
  - Palladius: хоу (xou)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /xoʊ̯⁵¹/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
  - Jyutping: hau⁶
  - Yale: hauh
  - Cantonese Pinyin: hau⁶
  - Guangdong Romanization: heo⁶
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /hɐu̯²²/
Min Nan
- (Hokkien: Xiamen)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hô͘
  - Tâi-lô: hôo
  - Phofsit Daibuun: hoo
  - IPA (Xiamen): /hɔ²⁴/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hō͘
  - Tâi-lô: hōo
  - Phofsit Daibuun: ho
  - IPA (Xiamen): /hɔ²²/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hāu
  - Tâi-lô: hāu
  - Phofsit Daibuun: hau
  - IPA (Xiamen): /hau²²/

Note:

hô͘ - literary (common);
hō͘ - literary (rare);
hāu - vernacular (rare).

(Teochew)
- Peng'im: hao⁷
- Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: hāu
- Sinological IPA ^(key): /hau¹¹/

DefinitionsEdit

侯

Only used in 閩侯／闽侯 (Mǐnhòu).

JapaneseEdit

KanjiEdit

侯

(common “Jōyō” kanji)

ReadingsEdit

Go-on: ぐ (gu)
Kan-on: こう (kō, Jōyō)
Kun: まと (mato, 侯); きみ (kimi, 侯)

KoreanEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Middle Chinese 侯 (MC ɦəu).

Historical readings
Recorded as Middle Korean ᅘᅮᇢ (Yale: hhwuw) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448. Recorded as Middle Korean ⿰亻𫶬/후 (hwu) (Yale: hwu) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.