TongTong
Sign in

哥哥 (gē ge) — older brother

Definition

Family term for 'older brother'. Use 弟弟 for younger brother; 兄弟 is a broader, more formal word covering both.

noun
older brother
Measure word · 个, 位

Examples

  • 哥哥。
    Tā yǒu yí gè gē ge.
    He has an older brother.
  • 哥哥。
    gē ge Shì lǎo shī.
    (My) older brother is a teacher.
  • 哥哥。
    Wǒ gē ge bú shì yī shēng.
    My older brother is not a doctor.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

哥gēolder brother
哥gēolder brother

“哥” doubled names an older brother, giving a familiar kinship term.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 哥 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 哥 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 1HSK 2.0 Level 21000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsFamily & Kinship2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 1 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.