‘伯侄’ is a compound noun referring specifically to the relationship between an eldest paternal uncle (伯, bó) and his brother’s son (侄, zhí). Unlike general terms like ‘uncle and nephew’, 伯侄 emphasizes both the seniority of the uncle (he must be the oldest brother of the father) and the direct paternal-line kinship. The term is formal and traditional, often used in written contexts, family discussions, or when describing hierarchical family roles in Chinese culture.

This word reflects the importance of generation, birth order, and lineage in Chinese kinship terminology. It is not used for maternal uncles (who are 叔 or 舅) nor for nephews through sisters. While rarely used in casual speech today, 伯侄 appears in literature, legal documents about inheritance, or when clarifying complex family ties—especially in multi-generational households or ancestral records.