长兄 (zhǎng xiōng) — eldest brother (formal/literary term)

Definition

Formal/literary term for 'eldest brother', typically used in writing or traditional contexts rather than everyday speech, where 哥哥 is normal. In Confucian family hierarchy, 长兄 carried near-paternal authority.

noun
eldest brother (formal/literary term)

Examples

  • 长兄。
    zhǎng xiōng Zài jiā zhōng dì wèi zuì gāo.
    The eldest brother has the highest status in the family.
  • 长兄，。
    Tā zuò wéi zhǎng xiōng, chéng dān le shàn yǎng fù mǔ de zé rèn.
    As the eldest brother, he bears the responsibility of supporting his parents.
  • ，长兄。
    Gǔ rén cháng shuō, zhǎng xiōng rú fù.
    The ancients often said that the eldest brother is like a father.

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.

长chángeldest
兄xiōngbrother

长 means eldest, and 兄 means brother, giving the eldest brother.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 長; 长 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 長 pictures an old man with long hair. The simplified 长 is a later shorthand, so its strokes do not show that original picture.

Open 长 →

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 →

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