伯 means “count, elder, uncle”

はく · haku

Also: chief, earl

On'yomi (Chinese reading): ハク

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 7 strokes

The story

A person (亻) and white (白): picture the white-haired eldest. 伯 once meant the eldest brother and still marks the elder: 伯父 is your parent's elder brother, 伯爵 is a count, and 画伯 is a title of respect for a master painter.

Used in 伯父 (oji, uncle, a parent's elder brother), 伯爵 (hakushaku, count/earl), and 画伯 (gahaku, master painter)

伯 means “count, elder, uncle”

The story

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