Diese Seite in deiner Sprache

English

فارسی

العربية

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

A2 noun 8 Min. Lesezeit

兄弟姐妹

Jetzt üben Beispiele Notizen & Tipps 兄弟姐妹 in 30 Sekunden

Erklärung 兄弟姐妹 in your Level:

At the A1 level, learners focus on the most basic family vocabulary. '兄弟姐妹' (xiōng dì jiě mèi) is introduced as the standard word for 'siblings.' Students learn to use it with the verb '有' (yǒu - to have) and '没有' (méiyǒu - to not have). The focus is on simple sentence patterns like '我有两个兄弟姐妹' (I have two siblings) or '你有没有兄弟姐妹？' (Do you have siblings?). At this stage, learners don't need to worry about the individual characters' deep meanings, but rather treat the four characters as a single block of meaning. They also learn that '个' (gè) is the measure word used here. The concept of 'only child' (独生子女) is often taught alongside this word to provide a complete picture of family status.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

At the A2 level, learners begin to describe their siblings. They use '兄弟姐妹' in conjunction with adjectives and more complex sentence structures. For example, '我的兄弟姐妹都很聪明' (My siblings are all very smart). They also learn to distinguish between the collective term and specific terms like 哥哥 (elder brother), 弟弟 (younger brother), 姐姐 (elder sister), and 妹妹 (younger sister). A2 learners should be able to answer questions about the age and occupation of their siblings. They also start to understand that in Chinese culture, siblings are usually listed in order of age. The usage of '和' (and) is clarified—learners are taught that '兄弟姐妹' already includes the 'and' concept internally and doesn't need extra conjunctions within the phrase.

At the B1 level, students move beyond simple descriptions and start discussing relationships and family dynamics. They use '兄弟姐妹' in sentences involving '比' (bǐ) for comparisons, such as '我比我的兄弟姐妹更喜欢运动' (I like sports more than my siblings do). They also explore the social context of the word, including how the 'One-Child Policy' (独生子女政策) affected the number of siblings people have in China. B1 learners should be able to discuss the pros and cons of having siblings, using the word in more abstract discussions about childhood and upbringing. They also encounter the word in slightly more formal contexts, such as school essays or short stories about family life.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

At the B2 level, learners are expected to use '兄弟姐妹' with greater fluency and in more nuanced contexts. They might use it when discussing social issues, such as the burden of caring for elderly parents when one has no siblings. They also begin to see the word in idiomatic expressions or more formal written Chinese. For instance, they might encounter '同胞兄弟姐妹' (biological siblings) to distinguish from step-siblings or cousins. B2 students should be able to understand the word when it appears in news reports about demographics or social trends. They also learn the subtle difference between '兄弟' and '姐妹' as separate entities and how they can be used metaphorically to describe close friendships or community bonds.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

At the C1 level, the focus shifts to the literary and historical nuances of sibling-related terminology. Learners explore how the concept of '兄弟姐妹' has evolved in Chinese literature, from classical Confucian texts emphasizing fraternal duty to modern literature exploring sibling rivalry. They learn related formal terms like '手足' (shǒu zú) and '昆仲' (kūn zhòng - a formal way to refer to brothers). C1 learners should be able to analyze the rhetorical use of '兄弟姐妹' in political speeches or religious sermons, where the term is used to create a sense of unity and shared identity among a large group of people. They also master the use of the word in complex grammatical structures and formal academic writing.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

At the C2 level, learners have a near-native grasp of '兄弟姐妹' and its place in the vast web of Chinese kinship terms. they understand the deep-seated cultural implications of the word's structure (male before female, elder before younger) and can discuss these implications in a sophisticated manner. C2 learners can use the word and its variants (like '兄友弟恭' - elder brother is kind, younger brother is respectful) to discuss traditional Chinese values. They are comfortable using the term in any register, from the most casual slang to the most formal legal or academic discourse. They can also appreciate and use the term in poetry or high-level literary analysis, understanding how sibling relationships are used as metaphors for broader human connections.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

Jetzt üben Beispiele Notizen & Tipps

兄弟姐妹 in 30 Sekunden

A collective term for siblings, including elder/younger brothers and elder/younger sisters.
Commonly used with the measure word '个' (gè) and the verb '有' (yǒu).
Does not include cousins, who are referred to with different specific terms.
Essential for discussing family size and background in Chinese culture.

The term 兄弟姐妹 (xiōng dì jiě mèi) is the collective Chinese noun for 'siblings.' Unlike the English word which is a single abstract concept, the Chinese word is a compound composed of four distinct characters, each representing a specific role within the traditional family hierarchy. These characters are: 兄 (xiōng, elder brother), 弟 (dì, younger brother), 姐 (jiě, elder sister), and 妹 (mèi, younger sister). When combined, they cover the entire spectrum of immediate biological or legal siblings regardless of gender or age relative to the speaker.

Cultural Hierarchy: In Chinese culture, age and order within the family are paramount. The construction of this word from oldest male to youngest female reflects Confucian values of social order. Even in modern usage, this term is the standard way to ask if someone has brothers or sisters.

你有几个兄弟姐妹？(Nǐ yǒu jǐ gè xiōng dì jiě mèi?) — How many siblings do you have?

People use this word in both formal and informal settings. In a formal context, such as a census form or a job application, it serves as the technical term for 'siblings.' In informal conversation, it is used to inquire about family size or to describe one's household. For many decades in mainland China, during the era of the One-Child Policy, this word was used less frequently in a personal context because many people were 独生子女 (dúshēng zǐnǚ, only children). However, with the shift to two-child and three-child policies, the relevance of 'siblings' in daily conversation has seen a significant resurgence.

Grammatical Usage: The word functions as a countable noun. You must use the measure word '个' (gè) when specifying the number of siblings. For example, '三个兄弟姐妹' (three siblings).

我没有兄弟姐妹，我是独生女。(Wǒ méiyǒu xiōngdì jiěmèi, wǒ shì dúshēngnǚ.) — I don't have siblings; I am an only daughter.

Interestingly, '兄弟' and '姐妹' can also be used separately to refer specifically to 'brothers' or 'sisters.' When you want to be inclusive of all, you use the full four-character phrase. It is rare to see the order changed; you would never say '姐妹兄弟' in standard Mandarin, as the traditional male-first, elder-first sequence is deeply ingrained in the linguistic structure of the language.

Using 兄弟姐妹 correctly involves understanding its placement in the sentence and the appropriate measure words. Because it is a noun, it typically occupies the object position after the verb 有 (yǒu, to have) or the subject position when describing a group.

Basic Structure: Subject + 有/没有 + (Number + 个) + 兄弟姐妹. This is the most common pattern for beginners and intermediate learners.

他在家里排行老大，还有三个兄弟姐妹。(Tā zài jiālǐ páiháng lǎodà, hái yǒu sān gè xiōngdì jiěmèi.) — He is the eldest in the family and has three siblings.

When you want to describe the relationship between siblings, you can use the word as a subject. For example, 'My siblings are all very tall' would be '我的兄弟姐妹都很高.' Note that the plural 's' in English is not reflected by a suffix like '们' in Chinese for this specific word, as the word itself is inherently plural or collective. Adding '们' to '兄弟姐妹' (兄弟姐妹们) is possible but usually only when you are directly addressing them in a speech, similar to saying 'Brothers and sisters!'

我们虽然是兄弟姐妹，但性格完全不同。(Wǒmen suīrán shì xiōngdì jiěmèi, dàn xìnggé wánquán bùtóng.) — Although we are siblings, our personalities are completely different.

In more advanced usage, you might see the word used to describe sibling-like bonds between friends. While '兄弟' (brothers) is more common for 'bros,' '兄弟姐妹' can be used in a religious or community context to refer to the 'brothers and sisters' of a congregation or a tight-knit group. For example, in a church setting, a speaker might address the audience as '各位兄弟姐妹' (Gèwèi xiōngdì jiěmèi - Dear brothers and sisters).

Negation: To say you have no siblings, always use '没有' (méiyǒu). Example: 我没有兄弟姐妹。

为了照顾生病的兄弟姐妹，他放弃了出国的机会。(Wèile zhàogù shēngbìng de xiōngdì jiěmèi, tā fàngqìle chūguó de jīhuì.) — To take care of his sick siblings, he gave up the opportunity to go abroad.

The frequency of 兄弟姐妹 in daily life is high, but its use varies depending on the social situation. In modern urban China, where the 'only-child' generation is now raising their own children, you often hear this word in discussions about family planning and social changes. Parents might say, '我希望我的孩子能有个兄弟姐妹陪他玩' (I hope my child can have a sibling to play with).

In the Media: You will frequently encounter this word in TV dramas (especially 'family ethics' dramas or 家庭伦理剧). Characters often argue about inheritance or support for elderly parents using this term. News reports also use it when discussing demographics or the 'second-child policy' (二胎政策).

现在的年轻人大多没有兄弟姐妹。(Xiànzài de niánqīng rén dàduō méiyǒu xiōngdì jiěmèi.) — Most young people nowadays do not have siblings.

In public service announcements or religious gatherings, the term takes on a broader, metaphorical meaning. It is the standard way to address a group of people in a way that emphasizes equality and shared humanity. If you attend a Christian service in China, the pastor will almost certainly address the congregation as '弟兄姐妹' (dìxiōng jiěmèi), a slightly shortened but identical version in meaning, emphasizing the spiritual bond.

过年的时候，所有的兄弟姐妹都会聚在一起。(Guònián de shíhòu, suǒyǒu de xiōngdì jiěmèi dūhuì jù zài yīqǐ.) — During the Chinese New Year, all the siblings will gather together.

When meeting someone for the first time, asking '你有兄弟姐妹吗？' is a very common icebreaker. It is considered a polite and standard question about one's background, similar to asking what someone does for a living or where they are from. It opens up the conversation to talk about family dynamics, which is a central pillar of Chinese social interaction.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is using 兄弟姐妹 to include cousins. In English, the boundaries between immediate and extended family can sometimes be blurred in casual speech, but in Chinese, the distinction is rigid. '兄弟姐妹' refers only to those who share the same parents (or are legally adopted/step-siblings within the same nuclear household).

The Cousin Confusion: Cousins are referred to as 堂兄弟姐妹 (táng xiōngdì jiěmèi) if they share the same paternal grandfather, or 表兄弟姐妹 (biǎo xiōngdì jiěmèi) if they are from the mother's side or the father's sisters. Never call your cousin your '兄弟姐妹' unless you want to imply you are biological siblings.

错误 (Mistake): 我有两个兄弟姐妹，他们是我叔叔的孩子。(I have two siblings; they are my uncle's children.)

Another mistake is the incorrect use of the plural suffix '们' (men). In English, 'sibling' is singular and 'siblings' is plural. In Chinese, '兄弟姐妹' is a collective noun. You do not need to add '们' to make it plural in a descriptive sentence. Saying '我有三个兄弟姐妹们' is grammatically awkward. Use '们' only when you are addressing the group directly (e.g., '兄弟姐妹们，大家好！').

Word Order: Learners sometimes try to reorder the characters based on their own family (e.g., saying '姐妹兄弟' if they only have sisters). Don't do this! The word is a set lexical item. Even if you only have sisters, the question '你有兄弟姐妹吗？' remains the same.

正确 (Correct): 虽然我只有姐姐，但我可以说我有兄弟姐妹。(Even though I only have elder sisters, I can say I have siblings.)

While 兄弟姐妹 is the most common and versatile term, there are several alternatives depending on the level of formality and the specific relationship you wish to highlight.

手足 (shǒu zú): Literally meaning 'hands and feet,' this is a literary and metaphorical way to refer to siblings. It implies that siblings are as essential to a person as their own limbs. It is often used in the idiom '情同手足' (qíng tóng shǒu zú), meaning 'as close as biological brothers.'

他们两个虽然不是亲兄弟，但感情情同手足。(Although they aren't biological brothers, they are as close as brothers.)

同胞 (tóng bāo): Literally 'from the same womb.' This can mean biological siblings (同胞兄弟姐妹), but more commonly in modern usage, it refers to 'compatriots' or people from the same country (e.g., 台湾同胞 - Taiwan compatriots).

If you are speaking specifically about only brothers or only sisters, you should use 兄弟 (xiōngdì) or 姐妹 (jiěmèi). Note that '兄弟' can also mean 'friend' or 'buddy' in a very informal, masculine context (like 'bro'), whereas '姐妹' is increasingly used among female friends to mean 'besties' or 'girls' (姐妹们!).

家属 (jiā shǔ): This is a very formal term for 'family members' or 'dependents,' often used in hospitals or legal documents. While it includes siblings, it also includes parents, spouses, and children.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

In ancient Chinese, '姐' (jiě) actually meant 'mother' in some dialects before it evolved to mean 'elder sister.'

Aussprachehilfe

UK /ʃjʊŋ diː dʒjeɪ meɪ/

US /ʃjʊŋ diː dʒjeɪ meɪ/

The emphasis is usually evenly distributed across the four characters, though 'Xiōng' and 'Jiě' carry slightly more weight as the elder terms.

Reimt sich auf

兄 (xiōng) rhymes with 空 (kōng). 弟 (dì) rhymes with 气 (qì). 姐 (jiě) rhymes with 写 (xiě). 妹 (mèi) rhymes with 对 (duì). 松 (sōng) 力 (lì) 别 (bié - slant rhyme) 位 (wèi)

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing 'Xiōng' as 'Ziong'.
Confusing the tones of 'Dì' (4th tone) and 'Dǐ' (3rd tone).
Merging 'Jiě' and 'Mèi' into a single sound.
Forgetting the 'i' sound in 'Xiōng'.
Using English rising intonation at the end of the phrase.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

Four common characters, easy to recognize as a block.

Schreiben 3/5

兄 and 弟 can be tricky for beginners to write stroke-by-stroke.

Sprechen 2/5

Pronunciation is straightforward, but tones must be clear.

Hören 1/5

Very distinctive four-syllable rhythm.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

哥哥弟弟姐姐妹妹有

Als Nächstes lernen

独生子女亲戚堂兄弟表姐妹

Fortgeschritten

手足之情兄友弟恭嫡庶

Wichtige Grammatik

Measure Word '个'

两个兄弟姐妹 (Correct) / 两个兄弟姐妹们 (Incorrect)

Negation with '没有'

我没有兄弟姐妹。

Hierarchical listing

Always list elder before younger in formal speech.

Inclusive '都'

我的兄弟姐妹都在美国。

Possessive '的'

他兄弟姐妹的名字。

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

Beispiele nach Niveau

我有两个兄弟姐妹。

I have two siblings.

Use '个' as the measure word.

你有没有兄弟姐妹？

Do you have siblings?

A-not-A question pattern.

他没有兄弟姐妹。

He doesn't have siblings.

Use '没有' for negation.

我的兄弟姐妹在北京。

My siblings are in Beijing.

Subject + 在 + Place.

你有几个兄弟姐妹？

How many siblings do you have?

Use '几个' for small numbers.

我和我的兄弟姐妹去学校。

My siblings and I go to school.

A 和 B + Verb.

这是我的兄弟姐妹。

These are my siblings.

Demonstrative '这是'.

你的兄弟姐妹多吗？

Do you have many siblings?

Adjective '多' used as a predicate.

我的兄弟姐妹都很高。

My siblings are all very tall.

Use '都' for 'all'.

他的兄弟姐妹在学习汉语。

His siblings are studying Chinese.

Present continuous with '在'.

我想给我的兄弟姐妹买礼物。

I want to buy gifts for my siblings.

给 + someone + buy + something.

你的兄弟姐妹多大？

How old are your siblings?

Asking about age.

我的兄弟姐妹喜欢吃水果。

My siblings like to eat fruit.

Verb '喜欢' + action.

他有三个兄弟姐妹，他是最小的。

He has three siblings; he is the youngest.

Ordinal '最小的'.

我和兄弟姐妹一起看电影。

I watch movies together with my siblings.

一起 (together).

你的兄弟姐妹做什么工作？

What jobs do your siblings do?

Asking about occupation.

我和兄弟姐妹的关系很好。

I have a good relationship with my siblings.

A 和 B 的关系.

虽然我们是兄弟姐妹，但我们不常见面。

Although we are siblings, we don't meet often.

虽然...但... (Although... but...).

我所有的兄弟姐妹都结婚了。

All of my siblings are married.

Resultative state with '了'.

照顾兄弟姐妹是我的责任。

It is my responsibility to take care of my siblings.

Subject as a verb phrase.

我的兄弟姐妹比我聪明得多。

My siblings are much smarter than I am.

Comparison with '比'.

我们家有四个孩子，包括我在内共有五个兄弟姐妹。

There are four children in our family; including me, there are five siblings.

Wait, usually you say 4 siblings if there are 5 children total.

你的兄弟姐妹中谁最调皮？

Who is the most mischievous among your siblings?

...中 (among).

他为了兄弟姐妹放弃了上大学。

He gave up going to university for the sake of his siblings.

为了... (for the sake of).

在独生子女政策下，很多人没有兄弟姐妹。

Under the one-child policy, many people have no siblings.

Prepositional phrase '在...下'.

兄弟姐妹之间的竞争是很普遍的。

Rivalry between siblings is very common.

Noun + 之间 (between).

父母应该公平地对待所有的兄弟姐妹。

Parents should treat all siblings fairly.

Adverbial '公平地'.

他把同学看作自己的兄弟姐妹。

He regards his classmates as his own siblings.

把...看作... (regard as).

兄弟姐妹的性格往往受出生顺序的影响。

Siblings' personalities are often influenced by birth order.

Passive structure '受...影响'.

无论发生什么，兄弟姐妹都会互相支持。

No matter what happens, siblings will support each other.

无论...都... (no matter...).

他继承了父母留给兄弟姐妹的房产。

He inherited the property left by his parents for the siblings.

Complex noun phrase.

这些孤儿渴望拥有兄弟姐妹的关爱。

These orphans long for the care of siblings.

Abstract noun '关爱'.

长兄如父，他在兄弟姐妹中享有极高的威信。

The eldest brother is like a father; he enjoys high prestige among his siblings.

Four-character idiom usage.

兄弟姐妹情深，这种纽带是任何东西都无法替代的。

The bond between siblings is deep; this tie is irreplaceable by anything.

Emphatic structure '是...的'.

他与兄弟姐妹因遗产分配问题产生了隔阂。

He and his siblings developed a rift due to the distribution of the inheritance.

因...产生... (due to... develop...).

在灾难面前，全体同胞如同兄弟姐妹一般团结。

In the face of disaster, all compatriots are as united as siblings.

Simile '如同...一般'.

这份契约保障了所有兄弟姐妹的合法权益。

This contract protects the legal rights and interests of all siblings.

Formal vocabulary '保障', '权益'.

他笔下的故事生动地描绘了兄弟姐妹间的恩怨情仇。

The stories from his pen vividly depict the gratitude, resentment, love, and hatred among siblings.

Set phrase '恩怨情仇'.

兄弟姐妹的凝聚力是一个家庭兴旺的关键。

The cohesion of siblings is the key to a family's prosperity.

Abstract concept '凝聚力'.

即便多年未见，兄弟姐妹间的默契依然存在。

Even after not seeing each other for years, the tacit understanding among siblings still exists.

Conjunction '即便...依然'.

那种血浓于水的兄弟姐妹之情，在危难时刻尤为显现。

That blood-is-thicker-than-water sibling bond is especially evident in times of crisis.

Idiom '血浓于水'.

儒家思想强调兄友弟恭，这是维系兄弟姐妹和谐的基石。

Confucianism emphasizes elder brother kindness and younger brother respect, which is the cornerstone of sibling harmony.

Philosophical terminology.

在现代法治社会中，兄弟姐妹的法律地位得到了明确界定。

In a modern society ruled by law, the legal status of siblings has been clearly defined.

Formal passive '得到...界定'.

这部史诗巨著探讨了权力如何异化了原本纯粹的兄弟姐妹关系。

This epic masterpiece explores how power alienated the originally pure sibling relationship.

Academic verb '异化'.

兄弟姐妹间的互动模式往往预示了其成年后的社交行为。

Interaction patterns among siblings often foreshadow their social behavior in adulthood.

Psychological terminology '互动模式'.

他致力于消除兄弟姐妹间因性别歧视而产生的不平等。

He is committed to eliminating inequalities among siblings caused by gender discrimination.

Complex objective clause.

在全球化的背景下，散居各国的兄弟姐妹依然通过网络保持联系。

In the context of globalization, siblings scattered across various countries still keep in touch via the internet.

Participial phrase '散居各国的'.

这种超越血缘的兄弟姐妹情谊，构成了人类社会的道德底色。

This sibling-like friendship that transcends bloodlines constitutes the moral foundation of human society.

Metaphorical usage.

Häufige Kollokationen

亲兄弟姐妹

堂兄弟姐妹

表兄弟姐妹

照顾兄弟姐妹

兄弟姐妹情

寻找兄弟姐妹

兄弟姐妹之间

所有的兄弟姐妹

没有兄弟姐妹

几个兄弟姐妹

Häufige Phrasen

兄弟姐妹们

— A direct address to siblings or a large group of people.

兄弟姐妹们，我们出发吧！

亲生兄弟姐妹

— Biological siblings from the same parents.

他们是亲生兄弟姐妹，长得很像。

异父异母的兄弟姐妹

— Step-siblings with no biological relation.

由于父母再婚，他有了异父异母的兄弟姐妹。

失散的兄弟姐妹

— Siblings who have lost contact over time.

他终于找到了失散多年的兄弟姐妹。

同父异母的兄弟姐妹

— Half-siblings sharing the same father.

他有几个同父异母的兄弟姐妹。

同母异父的兄弟姐妹

— Half-siblings sharing the same mother.

母亲改嫁后，他有了同母异父的兄弟姐妹。

结拜兄弟姐妹

— Sworn brothers and sisters (not biological).

他们几个人是结拜兄弟姐妹。

家里的兄弟姐妹

— The siblings within one's own family.

我是家里兄弟姐妹中最大的。

远方的兄弟姐妹

— Siblings living far away.

我经常给远方的兄弟姐妹写信。

众多的兄弟姐妹

— Many siblings.

他出生在一个有众多兄弟姐妹的家庭。

Wird oft verwechselt mit

兄弟姐妹 vs 亲戚

Relatives in general, whereas 兄弟姐妹 is only immediate siblings.

兄弟姐妹 vs 朋友

Friends, though close friends are sometimes called 'brothers/sisters' metaphorically.

兄弟姐妹 vs 同胞

Can mean siblings but usually refers to national compatriots.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"情同手足"

— To be as close as brothers (literally: feelings like hands and feet).

我们从小一起长大，情同手足。

Literary

"兄友弟恭"

— Elder brother is kind, younger brother is respectful.

这个家庭非常和睦，兄友弟恭。

Formal

"同胞兄弟"

— Biological brothers (same parents).

他们是真正的同胞兄弟。

Formal

"难兄难弟"

— Two people in the same misfortune (often used ironically).

我们俩都丢了钱包，真是难兄难弟。

Informal

"一母同胞"

— Born of the same mother.

他们是一母同胞的亲兄弟。

Formal

"骨肉至亲"

— Close relatives (flesh and blood), often siblings.

兄弟姐妹是骨肉至亲。

Literary

"手足之情"

— Brotherly/Sibling affection.

他非常珍惜这份手足之情。

Formal

"煮豆燃萁"

— Siblings fighting (literally: burning beanstalks to cook beans).

为了遗产，他们竟然煮豆燃萁。

Literary

"兄弟阋墙"

— Internal strife between brothers/siblings.

这种兄弟阋墙的行为让外人看笑话。

Formal

"同气连枝"

— Siblings (literally: from the same breath and connected branches).

兄弟姐妹本是同气连枝。

Literary

Leicht verwechselbar

兄弟姐妹 vs 堂兄弟姐妹

Both contain '兄弟姐妹'.

堂 refers to cousins with the same paternal grandfather.

我和堂兄弟姐妹一起去祭祖。

兄弟姐妹 vs 表兄弟姐妹

Both contain '兄弟姐妹'.

表 refers to cousins from the mother's side or father's sisters.

表兄弟姐妹在过年时聚在一起。

兄弟姐妹 vs 姊妹

Sounds like '姐妹'.

姊妹 is more formal or regional and only refers to sisters.

她们姊妹两个感情很好。

兄弟姐妹 vs 兄弟

Part of the word.

兄弟 specifically refers to brothers or can mean 'bros'.

他是我的好兄弟。

兄弟姐妹 vs 姐妹

Part of the word.

姐妹 specifically refers to sisters or 'besties'.

我们是好姐妹。

Satzmuster

我有[Number]个兄弟姐妹。

我有三个兄弟姐妹。

我的兄弟姐妹很[Adjective]。

我的兄弟姐妹很忙。

除了[Name]，我没有其他的兄弟姐妹。

除了哥哥，我没有其他的兄弟姐妹。

兄弟姐妹之间应该[Action]。

兄弟姐妹之间应该互相帮助。

尽管有兄弟姐妹，他依然感到孤独。

兄弟姐妹的情谊是贯穿一生财富。

兄弟姐妹的情谊是贯穿一生的财富。

Any

你有没有兄弟姐妹？

Any

他是我的兄弟姐妹之一。

Wortfamilie

Substantive

兄弟

姐妹

兄妹

姐弟

堂兄弟

表姐妹

Adjektive

亲生的

同胞的

Verwandt

家庭

父母

亲戚

手足

独生子女

Registriere dich kostenlos, um alle Beispiele zu sehen

So verwendest du es

frequency

Very high in both spoken and written Chinese.

Häufige Fehler

我有两个兄弟姐妹们。 → 我有两个兄弟姐妹。
The plural marker '们' is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect when a number is present.
我的表哥是我的兄弟姐妹。 → 我的表哥是我的亲戚。
Cousins are not '兄弟姐妹'; they are extended family.
你有几个姐妹兄弟？ → 你有几个兄弟姐妹？
The word order is fixed and should not be reversed.
我有两只兄弟姐妹。 → 我有两个兄弟姐妹。
The correct measure word for people is '个', not '只'.
我和兄弟姐妹。 → 我的兄弟姐妹。
If you mean 'my siblings', use '我的'. '我和兄弟姐妹' means 'Me and my siblings'.

Tipps

No Plural Marker

Don't add '们' (men) when describing how many siblings you have. The number and measure word already indicate plurality.

Hierarchy Matters

Even when using this collective term, remember that age hierarchy is very important in Chinese families. Knowing who is 'elder' and 'younger' is crucial.

Cousin Distinction

Always remember to add '堂' (táng) or '表' (biǎo) if you are talking about cousins. '兄弟姐妹' is strictly for your parents' children.

Tone Accuracy

Practice the tones: 1st, 4th, 3rd, 4th. Tones are vital for being understood clearly.

Stroke Order

The character '弟' has a specific stroke order that can be tricky. Practice it to ensure your handwriting looks natural.

Rhythm

Listen for the four-beat rhythm of the word in TV shows. It's often used in emotional scenes about family.

One-Child Policy

Understand that for many people born between 1980 and 2015, the answer to 'Do you have siblings?' is often 'No'.

Use '手足' for Flair

In a speech or a poem, using '手足' (shǒu zú) can make your Chinese sound more sophisticated.

Addressing Groups

If you are speaking to a group and want to be inclusive, '兄弟姐妹们' is a warm way to start.

Character Roots

The 'mouth' in '兄' reminds you it's the elder brother who speaks for the family.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Remember the order: Boy-Boy, Girl-Girl. Elder Boy (兄), Younger Boy (弟), Elder Girl (姐), Younger Girl (妹). It's a descending staircase of age for each gender.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a family photo with four children standing in a row from tallest to shortest, alternating genders.

Word Web

Family Brother Sister Relationship Hierarchy Love Rivalry Blood

Herausforderung

Try to list all your siblings' names using the format: 我的兄弟姐妹是 [Name] 和 [Name].

Wortherkunft

Each character has its own pictographic or ideographic origin. 兄 (xiōng) shows a mouth (口) on top of a person (儿), suggesting the one who speaks for the family. 弟 (dì) depicts leather wrapped around a spindle, suggesting succession or order. 姐 (jiě) and 妹 (mèi) both contain the woman radical (女).

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Collectively, they represent the four positions in the immediate sibling hierarchy.

Sino-Tibetan

Kultureller Kontext

Be aware that many Chinese people in their 20s and 30s are only children and may find the topic of siblings sensitive or interesting.

English speakers use 'siblings' as a gender-neutral term. In Chinese, the term is explicitly gendered and hierarchical.

The movie 'Sister' (我的姐姐) The idiom '情同手足' Confucian Analects regarding family order.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Introductions

我家有...
我是独生子
我有两个姐姐
我排行老二

Demographics

家庭规模
二胎政策
出生率
家庭成员

Legal/Medical

紧急联系人
家属签字
遗产继承
血缘关系

Socializing

你长得真像你兄弟姐妹
你们关系好吗？
经常联系吗？
住在一起吗？

Religion

主内的兄弟姐妹
弟兄姐妹们
彼此相爱
团契

Gesprächseinstiege

"你有兄弟姐妹吗？还是你是独生子女？"

"在你的兄弟姐妹中，你和谁的关系最好？"

"你觉得有兄弟姐妹最大的好处是什么？"

"如果你可以选，你想要更多的兄弟姐妹吗？"

"你的兄弟姐妹长得和你像吗？"

Tagebuch-Impulse

写一写你和你的兄弟姐妹之间发生过的一件有趣的事。

如果你是独生子女，你想象中的兄弟姐妹是什么样的？

讨论一下兄弟姐妹在照顾年迈父母中的角色。

描述一下你兄弟姐妹的性格特点。

你认为兄弟姐妹之间的竞争对成长有好处吗？

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Yes, in modern usage, it can include step-siblings or half-siblings within the same household, though one might specify '继' (jì) or '同父异母' (tóng fù yì mǔ) if the distinction is important.

No, cousins must be called 堂兄弟姐妹 or 表兄弟姐妹. Using 兄弟姐妹 for cousins is a common mistake for English speakers.

No single word is as common as the four-character compound, but '兄弟' or '姐妹' are used if you only have one gender of siblings.

You say '我是独生子女' (Wǒ shì dúshēng zǐnǚ).

No, '兄弟姐妹' is a fixed compound. Do not say '兄和弟和姐和妹'.

Yes, it is a very common and polite icebreaker in Chinese culture.

You still use the term '兄弟姐妹' in the question '你有兄弟姐妹吗？' but you answer '我有两个姐姐/妹妹'.

The most common and correct measure word is '个' (gè).

Metaphorically, yes, but usually people just use '兄弟' or '姐妹' for friends.

No, it is always 兄-弟-姐-妹, following the traditional hierarchy of male-female and elder-younger.

Registriere dich kostenlos für Tipps & Notizen