Brother in Chinese
The Chinese word for "brother" is 哥哥 (gē ge). Chinese has no single word for 'brother': an older brother is 哥哥 and a younger brother is 弟弟, so you always say which.
Chinese words for brother
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 哥哥 | gē ge | brother | The default answer. |
| 弟弟 | dì di | younger brother | A brother younger than you. |
| 兄弟 | xiōng dì | brothers; bro | Brothers as a pair or group, and a warm word between close male friends. |
| 兄弟姐妹 | xiōng dì jiě mèi | siblings | Brothers and sisters together; the usual way to ask about siblings. |
| 大哥 | dà gē | eldest brother; big brother | Your eldest brother, or a friendly way to address an older man. |
Example sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我有一个哥哥和一个弟弟。 | wǒ yǒu yī gè gē ge hé yī gè dì di. | I have an older brother and a younger brother. |
| 你有兄弟姐妹吗？ | nǐ yǒu xiōng dì jiě mèi ma? | Do you have any brothers or sisters? |
| 我哥哥比我大三岁。 | wǒ gē ge bǐ wǒ dà sān suì. | My brother is three years older than me. |
| 他们是好兄弟。 | tā men shì hǎo xiōng dì. | They are like brothers. |
The characters in 哥哥
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning here |
|---|---|---|
| 哥 | gē | older brother; in 哥哥 the second 哥 is neutral tone, gē ge |
Common mistakes
- There is no neutral word for one brother: choose 哥哥 (older) or 弟弟 (younger).
- The second syllable is neutral: gē ge, dì di, not gē gē or dì dì.
- To ask about siblings, say 你有兄弟姐妹吗？ rather than asking only about 兄弟.
Related
Frequently asked questions
How do you say brother in Chinese?
哥哥 (gē ge). Other ways: 弟弟 (dì di); 兄弟 (xiōng dì); 兄弟姐妹 (xiōng dì jiě mèi).
How do you say 'I have a brother' in Chinese?
Say 我有一个哥哥 for an older brother or 我有一个弟弟 for a younger one. Chinese makes you choose.
How do you say 'bro' in Chinese?
兄弟 (xiōng dì) is the common word between close male friends.
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