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小兄弟 (xiǎo xiōng dì) — (endearing address) little brother, buddy (used for a younger male); (derogatory slang) young thug, home boy, gang member

Definition

Literally 'little brother,' used as a friendly address to a younger male — warm and familiar, but can also mean 'young thug/gang member' in a derogatory sense.

noun
(endearing address) little brotherbuddy (used for a younger male)(derogatory slang) young thughome boygang member
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • ，小兄弟，。
    Bié pà, xiǎo xiōng dì, wǒ men bāng nǐ.
    Don't be afraid, little brother, we'll help you.
  • 小兄弟。
    Nà xiē xiǎo xiōng dì zhěng tiān zài jiē shàng dǎ jià.
    Those young thugs are always fighting on the streets.
  • 小兄弟。
    Zhè ge xiǎo xiōng dì hěn dǒng shì.
    This young lad is very sensible.

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.

小xiǎosmall
兄弟brothers
兄xiōngolder brother弟dìyounger brother
联合Coordinate

小 adds the sense of younger or small, while 兄 and 弟 together mean brothers.

Characters in this word

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

  • 八八bāto divide; to separate
  • 丨丨gǔnsmall object

The shape of 小 comes from three small dots, later elongated into its strokes; the apparent parts 八 and 丨 are a later way of seeing it.

Open 小 →

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

弟 pictures a spear handle wrapped in a leather strap. The wrapping showed order, and that meaning was extended to a younger brother.

Open 弟 →
Appears in
Friends & SocialFamily & Kinship

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