Definition
表弟 refers to a younger male cousin who is related through your mother's side of the family or through a paternal aunt — meaning you share a different surname (外姓). This contrasts with 堂弟 (táng dì), who is the younger male cousin on your father's side with the same surname. The 表/堂 distinction is important in Chinese family terms and is not captured by the single English word 'cousin'.
n.
younger male cousin (on mother's side or father's sister's side, i.e., with a different surname)
Examples
- 表弟。Wǒ biǎo dì jīnnián kǎo shàng dàxué le.My younger male cousin got into college this year.
- 表弟，。biǎo dì bǐ wǒ xiǎo sān suì, wǒmen jīngcháng yìqǐ dǎ lánqiú.My younger male cousin is three years younger than me, and we often play basketball together.
- 表弟，。Shàng zhōumò wǒ qù biǎo dì jiā, hé tā wán le yí xiàwǔ yóuxì.Last weekend I went to my younger male cousin's house and played games with him for an afternoon.
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