TongTong
Sign in

仁兄 (rén xiōng) — (fixed expression, respectful) dear friend, honorable elder brother (term of address for males)

Definition

An archaic, very polite written address to a male peer or senior, used in letters or formal speech. Closely paired with 自谦 terms like 小弟 in the speaker's self-reference.

idiom
(fixed expression, respectful) dear friendhonorable elder brother (term of address for males)

Examples

  • 仁兄，，？
    rén xiōng, Duō rì bú jiàn, jìn lái kě hǎo?
    Dear friend, it's been many days since we last met — how have you been?
  • 仁兄，。
    rén xiōng Tái jiàn, lái xìn yǐ shōu dào.
    To my esteemed friend, I have received your letter.
  • 仁兄。
    Xiǎo dì zài cǐ gōng hòu rén xiōng duō shí le.
    Your humble younger brother has been waiting here for you for a long time.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

仁rénbenevolent
兄xiōngelder brother

仁兄 pairs 仁 (benevolent) with 兄 (elder brother), a respectful way to address a man.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
二二èr
Sound part声符shēngfú
人
人rén仁rén
Same sound today

仁 is built from 人 and 二; 人 gives the sound, and 二 gives the meaning.

Open 仁 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape 兄 puts 口, a mouth, above 儿 to express the idea of giving orders; this fits the old meaning of an elder brother.

Open 兄 →
Appears in
Identity & TitlesFriends & Social

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.