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表兄弟 (biǎo xiōng dì) — male maternal cousins (with a different surname)

Definition

Covers both 'older' (表哥, 表哥) and 'younger' (表弟) male cousins on the maternal side (mother's family). Sibling terms include 堂兄弟, for paternal-side male cousins of the same surname.

noun
male maternal cousins (with a different surname)

Examples

  • 表兄弟。
    Wǒ de biǎo xiōng dì hé wǒ yì qǐ zhǎng dà.
    My male cousin and I grew up together.
  • 表兄弟，。
    Tā yǒu liǎng gè biǎo xiōng dì, dōu shì tā jiù jiu de ér zi.
    He has two male cousins, both sons of his maternal uncle.
  • 表兄弟。
    Wǒ hé wǒ de biǎo xiōng dì guān xì hěn hǎo.
    My male cousin and I have a good relationship.

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.

表biǎocousin
兄弟brothers
兄xiōngelder brother弟dìyounger brother
联合Coordinate

表 (cousin) and 兄弟 (brothers) name male cousins.

Characters in this word

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

The shape 表 pairs 衣 (garment) with 毛 (hair or feather), originally an outer garment.

Open 表 →

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
Family & Kinship

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