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兄 (xiōng) — (bound form) elder brother; (bound form) elder male relative of the same generation (e.g., cousin); (bound form) a respectful term of address between men, often used in formal or written contexts

Definition

兄 is a bound form (not used alone) meaning 'elder brother' in formal or written Chinese. Compare 哥哥 (gēge), the everyday spoken word for elder brother; 兄 is restricted to set phrases like 长兄, 兄长, or respectful address like 王兄.

bound form
elder brotherelder male relative of the same generation (e.g., cousin)a respectful term of address between men, often used in formal or written contexts

Examples

  • ，。
    Tā shì wǒ xiōng zhǎng, bú shì táng gē.
    He is my elder brother, not my paternal cousin.
  • 兄，，。
    Wáng xiōng, lái xìn yǐ shōu, xiè xie nín de bāng zhù.
    Dear Mr. Wang, I have received your letter. Thank you for your help.
  • 兄。
    Wǒ de biǎo xiōng zài měi guó dāng yī shēng.
    My elder male cousin (on my mother's side) works as a doctor in the United States.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

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.

Appears in
Family & Kinship

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