老板

นิรุกติศาสตร์และส่วนประกอบ

The Chinese word 老板 (lǎobǎn) is composed of two characters: 老 (lǎo), meaning "old" or "senior", and 板 (bǎn), meaning "board" or "plank". Together, they literally mean "old board" or "old plank". This term was originally used to refer to the owner of a shop or business, as they were often older and more experienced than their employees. Over time, the meaning of 老板 has expanded to include any person in a position of authority or leadership, such as a manager, supervisor, or boss. In modern Chinese, 老板 is the most common term used to refer to an employer or business owner.