爸 is a Chinese character with HSK 1 on the new exam.
Etymology
Oracle-bone origin
爸 has no oracle bone, bronze, or seal script form. It is a phono-semantic compound coined much later, built from 父 (father) as the semantic component on top and 巴 as the phonetic component below. The character was invented to write the colloquial reduplicated baby-talk word 爸爸.
Form evolution
Because 爸 is a post-classical formation, its shape is consistent across later scripts. It first appears in lexical works around the medieval period and is listed in the Guangyun rhyme dictionary (1008 CE). Both traditional and simplified writing systems use the same form.
How the meaning evolved
The character was created specifically to represent the near-universal baby syllable /pa/ used for father. It has always meant father or dad and has not shifted meaning, though register has: 爸爸 is now the everyday neutral word, while the older 父亲 is formal or written. In some regional varieties 爸 can also address an uncle or older male relative.
Cultural note
The pair 爸爸/妈妈 replaced older terms like 爹娘 and 父母 in everyday modern speech during the twentieth century, partly through the influence of textbooks and children's media. 父 on its own is rarely spoken today; it survives mainly in compounds like 父亲, 父母, and 祖父.
Basic info
Example sentences
我爸爸在工作。
Wǒ bàba zài gōngzuò.
My dad is working.
From 爸爸 (HSK 1)
Words containing 爸
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 爸爸 | bàba | dad | HSK 1 |
On the new HSK 1 exam
Studying for HSK 1? Keep 爸 with the rest of your level.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.