How to Write 侯 (hóu) — Meaning “Marquis / Nobleman”

Imagine a nobleman (Marquis) standing with a bow and arrow. The left side 亻 is the person, and the right side 矢 is the arrow — so you can remember: 'The person with an arrow is the Marquis.'

Write the left radical 亻 first (a slanted line and a vertical stroke). Next, write a short horizontal stroke across the top, then the rest of 矢 (first a left-falling stroke, then two horizontals, then a left-falling stroke and a right-falling stroke). A common mistake is adding a vertical stroke on top, which would make it 候 (meaning 'to wait').

侯 has the component 矢 (arrow) on the right, while 伯 has 白 (white) on the right, and 估 has 古 (ancient). For example, 伯 means 'uncle' or 'elder,' and 估 means 'to estimate.' Their meanings are very different from the noble title of 侯.

侯 is mainly used as a surname (e.g., 姓侯) and in historical or formal terms like 诸侯 (feudal lords) and 侯爵 (the title of marquis). It is not a common everyday character, but you will see it in history books and for some family names.

Common words containing 侯 include: 诸侯 (zhū hóu) — Feudal lords; 侯爵 (hóu jué) — Marquis; 姓侯 (xìng hóu) — surnamed Hou.