老爷 (lǎoye): lord

Measure Word

一位老爷 wèi

老爷，您的马车已经准备好了。

Lǎoye, nín de mǎchē yǐjīng zhǔnbèi hǎole.

My lord, your carriage is ready.

姥爷以前是个老爷。

Lǎoye yǐqián shì gè lǎoye.

Grandpa used to be a lord.

history

老爷 was a respectful form of address for officials and wealthy landowners in imperial China. Today it sounds archaic except in period dramas.

老 lǎo

爷 yé