(はくしゃく)

はくしゃく
noun
count, earl
1. count, earl
A rank of nobility, third in the five-rank peerage system. Equivalent to 'count' in continental European nobility or 'earl' in British peerage. Also used in the former Japanese peerage system (kazoku) established in 1884.
伯爵(はくしゃく)称号(しょうごう)(あた)えられた。
He was given the title of count.
ドラキュラ伯爵(はくしゃく)有名(ゆうめい)吸血鬼(きゅうけつき)のキャラクターだ。
Count Dracula is a famous vampire character.
明治(めいじ)時代(じだい)華族(かぞく)制度(せいど)(もう)けられ、公爵(こうしゃく)侯爵(こうしゃく)伯爵(はくしゃく)子爵(ししゃく)男爵(だんしゃく)(いつ)つの爵位(しゃくい)(さだ)められた。
In the Meiji era, a peerage system was established with five ranks: duke, marquis, count, viscount, and baron.

One of the five ranks in the Japanese 華族(かぞく) peerage system (1884-1947), modeled after European nobility.

THE FIVE RANKS:

  • 公爵(こうしゃく) (duke/prince)
  • 侯爵(こうしゃく) (marquis)
  • 伯爵(はくしゃく) (count/earl)
  • 子爵(ししゃく) (viscount)
  • 男爵(だんしゃく) (baron)

USAGE NOTES:
Most commonly encountered in translations of European literature and history (e.g., 伯爵(はくしゃく)モンテ・クリスト — The Count of Monte Cristo) or discussions of Meiji-era Japanese history. The female form is 伯爵(はくしゃく)夫人(ふじん) (countess).