xiōngdì jiěmèi: 兄弟姐妹 - Siblings, Brothers and Sisters

• Keywords: 兄弟姐妹, xiōngdì jiěmèi, siblings in Chinese, brothers and sisters in Mandarin, Chinese family terms, Chinese family culture, 哥哥, 弟弟, 姐姐, 妹妹, Chinese collectivism, family relationships in China.
• Summary: The Chinese term 兄弟姐妹 (xiōngdì jiěmèi) is the direct translation for “siblings.” However, it's more than just a word; it's a cultural concept. Composed of the individual characters for older brother (兄), younger brother (弟), older sister (姐), and younger sister (妹), its very structure reveals the deep-seated importance of age hierarchy and specific family roles in Chinese culture. This page will explore the meaning of 兄弟姐妹, its cultural significance, and how to use it correctly when talking about family in Mandarin.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xiōngdì jiěmèi
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A collective term for all of one's siblings, both male and female.
• In a Nutshell: This is the general, all-encompassing word for “siblings” in Chinese. Think of it as a category you use when asking someone if they have siblings or when referring to them as a group in a general sense. Unlike the English word “siblings,” it's a compound word built from the four specific terms for each type of sibling, which are used much more frequently in daily conversation.

• 兄 (xiōng): Older brother. This character is thought to have evolved from a pictograph of a person with a large mouth or head, symbolizing the person who speaks, gives advice, or leads.
• 弟 (dì): Younger brother. This character's ancient form depicts a rope being wound in sequence, representing order and succession. Thus, the one who follows the older brother.
• 姐 (jiě): Older sister. This character is composed of the radical for woman `女 (nǚ)` on the left, indicating gender, and `且 (qiě)` on the right, which primarily provides the phonetic sound.
• 妹 (mèi): Younger sister. This also contains the woman radical `女 (nǚ)`. The right side, `未 (wèi)`, provides the sound and originally meant “not yet,” hinting at a younger female who is “not yet” fully grown.

The combination of these four characters—`兄`+`弟`+`姐`+`妹`—literally covers every possible sibling relationship, creating the complete and collective term 兄弟姐妹.

The term 兄弟姐妹 is a window into traditional Chinese family values, which are heavily influenced by Confucianism. The key takeaway is the emphasis on hierarchy and specific roles. In Western culture, “siblings” is a neutral, flat term. We must add adjectives like “older” or “younger” to specify. In Chinese, this distinction is embedded in the core nouns: `哥哥 (gēge)`, `弟弟 (dìdi)`, `姐姐 (jiějie)`, and `妹妹 (mèimei)`. The term 兄弟姐妹 is simply the collection of these distinct roles. This structure reflects a cultural value system where age dictates respect and responsibility. An older sibling, especially a `哥哥 (gēge)`, was traditionally expected to protect, guide, and even provide for their younger siblings. In return, younger siblings were expected to show respect, listen to, and learn from their elders. This concept has been profoundly impacted by China's One-Child Policy (approx. 1980-2015). For a generation of `独生子女 (dúshēng zǐnǚ)` or “only children,” the direct experience of having 兄弟姐妹 was rare. For them, cousins (`堂兄弟姐妹` or `表兄弟姐妹`) often filled a similar social and emotional role.

While its cultural roots are deep, the term's practical usage is straightforward but with important distinctions.

• General Inquiries: It is most commonly used when asking a general question, like “Do you have siblings?” or when making a general statement about one's family structure.
• Formal or Written Contexts: It often appears in writing, formal speeches, or when discussing sociological topics like family.
• Figurative Usage (Solidarity): The term can be extended metaphorically to express a strong sense of camaraderie and solidarity among a non-familial group. For example, members of an organization, fellow countrymen, or even colleagues might refer to each other as 兄弟姐妹 to emphasize a close, family-like bond. You might hear a CEO say, “公司的各位兄弟姐妹…” (“To all our brothers and sisters in the company…”).
• What it's NOT for: You would never use 兄弟姐妹 to directly address your siblings. You wouldn't walk into a room and say “Hello, 兄弟姐妹!”. You must use the specific terms: `哥! (gē!)` or `姐姐! (jiějie!)`.

• Example 1:
  • 你有兄弟姐妹吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yǒu xiōngdì jiěmèi ma?
  • English: Do you have any siblings?
  • Analysis: This is the most common and standard way to ask about someone's siblings. It's a neutral, polite question.
• Example 2:
  • 我没有兄弟姐妹，我是独生子女。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ méiyǒu xiōngdì jiěmèi, wǒ shì dúshēng zǐnǚ.
  • English: I don't have any siblings, I'm an only child.
  • Analysis: A very common answer in China for people born between 1980 and 2015, directly referencing the cultural impact of the One-Child Policy.
• Example 3:
  • 她有五个兄弟姐妹，所以她家很热闹。
  • Pinyin: Tā yǒu wǔ gè xiōngdì jiěmèi, suǒyǐ tā jiā hěn rènào.
  • English: She has five siblings, so her home is very lively.
  • Analysis: Here, the term is used to state a number of siblings collectively, without needing to specify the gender or age of each one.
• Example 4:
  • 在我们公司，大家就像兄弟姐妹一样。
  • Pinyin: Zài wǒmen gōngsī, dàjiā jiù xiàng xiōngdì jiěmèi yīyàng.
  • English: In our company, everyone is like brothers and sisters.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the important figurative use of the term to express solidarity and a close-knit community in a workplace.
• Example 5:
  • 他们的兄弟姐妹遍布世界各地。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de xiōngdì jiěmèi biànbù shìjiè gèdì.
  • English: Their siblings are scattered all over the world.
  • Analysis: A more formal, written-style sentence you might find in a story or biography.
• Example 6:
  • 照顾兄弟姐妹是哥哥姐姐的责任。
  • Pinyin: Zhàogù xiōngdì jiěmèi shì gēge jiějie de zérèn.
  • English: Taking care of younger siblings is the responsibility of the older brother and older sister.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the cultural expectation tied to sibling roles. It uses the general term `兄弟姐妹` to refer to the younger ones being cared for.
• Example 7:
  • 他把所有的财产都留给了他的兄弟姐妹。
  • Pinyin: Tā bǎ suǒyǒu de cáichǎn dōu liú gěi le tā de xiōngdì jiěmèi.
  • English: He left all his property to his siblings.
  • Analysis: A sentence you might hear in a legal or formal context, referring to the siblings as a legal class of heirs.
• Example 8:
  • 虽然我们经常吵架，但我和我的兄弟姐妹关系很好。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán wǒmen jīngcháng chǎojià, dàn wǒ hé wǒ de xiōngdì jiěmèi guānxì hěn hǎo.
  • English: Although we often argue, my siblings and I have a very good relationship.
  • Analysis: This shows the term used to talk about the sibling relationship (`关系`) as a whole.
• Example 9:
  • 全国的医护人员们，我们的兄弟姐妹，你们辛苦了！
  • Pinyin: Quánguó de yīhù rényuán men, wǒmen de xiōngdì jiěmèi, nǐmen xīnkǔ le!
  • English: To all the medical workers of the nation, our brothers and sisters, thank you for your hard work!
  • Analysis: A powerful, emotional use of the term in a public or formal address to create a sense of national unity and shared purpose.
• Example 10:
  • 她的堂兄弟姐妹比亲兄弟姐妹还亲。
  • Pinyin: Tā de táng xiōngdì jiěmèi bǐ qīn xiōngdì jiěmèi hái qīn.
  • English: Her paternal cousins are even closer to her than her own siblings.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts biological siblings (`亲兄弟姐妹`) with cousins (`堂兄弟姐妹`), showing how different family relationships can be described.

• Common Mistake: Using it for direct address.
  • A learner might see their friend's siblings and say, “你好, 兄弟姐妹!” (Nǐ hǎo, xiōngdì jiěmèi!). This is incorrect and sounds very unnatural.
  • Why it's wrong: 兄弟姐妹 is a collective, abstract category, not a title for a person. It's like saying “Hello, siblings!” in English instead of using their names or titles.
  • Correction: You must address them by their specific title relative to your friend, such as `哥哥 (gēge)`, `姐姐 (jiějie)`, or by their name.
• Nuance: It's a sum of its parts.
  • Don't think of 兄弟姐妹 as a standalone concept like the English “siblings.” Always remember it is a compound of `兄`, `弟`, `姐`, and `妹`. In daily life, Chinese speakers will almost always use the more specific terms. The general term is reserved for when the specific roles don't matter, or when referring to all of them at once.

• 哥哥 (gēge): Older brother. The specific term used in daily life.
• 弟弟 (dìdi): Younger brother.
• 姐姐 (jiějie): Older sister.
• 妹妹 (mèimei): Younger sister.
• 独生子女 (dúshēng zǐnǚ): Only child. A hugely important social concept in modern China, representing the generation without 兄弟姐妹.
• 手足 (shǒuzú): A more literary and formal term for siblings. It literally means “hands and feet,” implying that siblings are as essential and connected as one's own limbs.
• 情同手足 (qíng tóng shǒuzú): An idiom meaning “(to have a relationship) as close as siblings.” Used to describe a very deep friendship.
• 堂兄弟姐妹 (táng xiōngdì jiěmèi): Paternal cousins; children of your father's brothers. They share the same surname.
• 表兄弟姐妹 (biǎo xiōngdì jiěmèi): Maternal cousins (children of your mother's siblings) OR paternal cousins from your father's sisters. They have a different surname.
• 亲戚 (qīnqi): Relatives. The broad category that includes all family members, including parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings.