gēge: 哥哥 - Older Brother, Big Brother

• Keywords: gege, gēge, 哥哥, older brother in Chinese, big brother Chinese, how to say brother in Chinese, Chinese family terms, Chinese kinship, address terms in Chinese, Chinese culture respect for elders
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 哥哥 (gēge), the Chinese word for “older brother.” This essential HSK 1 term goes far beyond family; it's a common and respectful way to address any slightly older male friend, cousin, or even a friendly stranger. Learning to use gēge correctly is a key step in sounding natural and showing cultural awareness, reflecting the importance of age and hierarchy in Chinese society. This guide covers its cultural significance, modern usage, and provides numerous examples to help you master this fundamental word.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gēge
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: An older brother.
• In a Nutshell: 哥哥 (gēge) is one of the first words learners encounter for family members. Its core meaning is “older brother,” but its use extends widely into social situations. It's a warm, friendly, and respectful term used to address male friends, cousins, or acquaintances who are older than you, but still part of the same generation. This small word packs a large cultural punch, embodying concepts of respect, closeness, and age hierarchy.

• 哥 (gē): The character 哥 is composed of a repeatable component, 可 (kě), which can mean “can” or “able” and often acts as a phonetic component. In ancient forms, it was depicted as a person singing. For a beginner, it's easiest to simply recognize 哥 as the character for “older brother.”
• 哥哥 (gēge): The repetition of a character is a very common way to create familiar, two-syllable nouns in Chinese, especially for kinship terms like 爸爸 (bàba), 妈妈 (māma), and 弟弟 (dìdi). This repetition often gives the word a more affectionate and common-speech feel. Note that the second character is pronounced with a neutral tone (`ge`), not a first tone (`gē`), which is typical for these repeated-character nouns.

In Chinese culture, heavily influenced by Confucian values, age dictates social hierarchy and respect. The concept of 长幼有序 (zhǎngyòu yǒuxù), meaning “order between the old and the young,” is fundamental. Within a family, the 哥哥 (gēge) traditionally holds a position of authority and responsibility, second only to the parents. He is expected to protect and guide his younger siblings. This cultural framework is why the term 哥哥 extends beyond blood relations. Calling a non-related male peer who is slightly older than you “gēge” is not just friendly; it's a sign of respect. It acknowledges their seniority in age, even if by only a year, and places you in a slightly more junior, but still familiar, position. This contrasts with Western culture. While one might call a close friend “bro,” it's a term of peer camaraderie and doesn't carry the same built-in sense of age-based respect. You would not typically address a new acquaintance who is a few years older as “older brother” in English; in Chinese, this is a common and polite way to build rapport.

哥哥 (gēge) is an extremely versatile term used in many daily situations.

• Within the Family: This is the literal use. You call your own biological older brother 哥哥. You would also call your older male cousins 表哥 (biǎogē) (maternal side) or 堂哥 (tánggē) (paternal side), but in conversation, you might simply call them 哥哥.
• With Friends and Peers: This is the most common non-familial use. If a male friend or colleague is a few years older than you, calling them by their name + 哥 (gē) (e.g., “李哥 Lǐ gē”) or just 哥 is a very common way to show warmth and respect. It establishes a friendly, sibling-like dynamic.
• Addressing Strangers: When you need to get the attention of a male stranger who looks slightly older than you (e.g., a waiter, a shopkeeper, someone on the street), calling him 哥哥 is a polite and friendly approach. It's much warmer than shouting “Hey you!”
• On Social Media and in Pop Culture: The term 小哥哥 (xiǎo gēge), literally “little older brother,” has become a trendy, slightly flirty internet slang term used by young women to refer to any handsome young man. It's playful and informal.
• Referring to Oneself: A man might refer to himself as 哥 (gē) when giving advice to someone younger, in a tone that is half-authoritative, half-joking. For example, “Listen to your big bro (me), this is how you should do it.”

• Example 1:
  • 我哥哥比我大三岁。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gēge bǐ wǒ dà sān suì.
  • English: My older brother is three years older than me.
  • Analysis: This is the most direct, literal use of the word, referring to one's biological older brother.
• Example 2:
  • 王哥，周末有空一起吃饭吗？
  • Pinyin: Wáng gē, zhōumò yǒu kòng yīqǐ chīfàn ma?
  • English: Brother Wang, are you free to have a meal together this weekend?
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the common practice of appending 哥 (gē) to a surname (王 Wáng) to respectfully and informally address an older male friend or colleague.
• Example 3:
  • 哥哥，请问去地铁站怎么走？
  • Pinyin: Gēge, qǐngwèn qù dìtiězhàn zěnme zǒu?
  • English: Big brother, excuse me, how do I get to the subway station?
  • Analysis: A perfect example of using 哥哥 to politely address a male stranger who appears to be from the same generation but slightly older.
• Example 4:
  • 这是我表哥，他刚从美国回来。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒ biǎogē, tā gāng cóng Měiguó huílái.
  • English: This is my older male cousin (from my mother's side), he just got back from the US.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the more specific term for an older male cousin, 表哥 (biǎogē). Often, in direct address, one would still just call him 哥哥.
• Example 5:
  • 你放心，有哥在，没问题。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ fàngxīn, yǒu gē zài, méi wèntí.
  • English: Don't worry, Big Bro's here, no problem.
  • Analysis: Here, a man refers to himself as 哥 (gē) to reassure someone younger. It conveys confidence and a sense of protectiveness.
• Example 6:
  • 那个穿蓝色T恤的小哥哥好帅啊！
  • Pinyin: Nàge chuān lán sè T-xù de xiǎo gēge hǎo shuài a!
  • English: That handsome young guy (little older brother) in the blue T-shirt is so good-looking!
  • Analysis: This shows the modern internet slang usage of 小哥哥 (xiǎo gēge), used to refer to an attractive young man, often by young women.
• Example 7:
  • 我从小就跟着我哥哥一起玩。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ cóngxiǎo jiù gēnzhe wǒ gēge yīqǐ wán.
  • English: Since I was little, I've always played with my older brother.
  • Analysis: A simple, nostalgic sentence describing a typical sibling relationship.
• Example 8:
  • 李哥是我们的项目经理，他很有经验。
  • Pinyin: Lǐ gē shì wǒmen de xiàngmù jīnglǐ, tā hěn yǒu jīngyàn.
  • English: Brother Li is our project manager; he's very experienced.
  • Analysis: Using “Name + 哥” in a work environment shows a relationship that is both respectful and close, less stiff than using a full title like “Manager Li” (李经理 Lǐ jīnglǐ).
• Example 9:
  • 我有两个哥哥和一个妹妹。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yǒu liǎng ge gēge hé yī ge mèimei.
  • English: I have two older brothers and one younger sister.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the use of the word in plural form, using the measure word 个 (ge).
• Example 10:
  • 他虽然不是我亲哥哥，但待我像亲弟弟一样。
  • Pinyin: Tā suīrán bùshì wǒ qīn gēge, dàn dài wǒ xiàng qīn dìdi yīyàng.
  • English: Although he's not my biological older brother, he treats me like a real younger brother.
  • Analysis: This sentence beautifully captures the cultural extension of the term. The relationship is so close it feels like a real sibling relationship.

• Mistake 1: Calling a younger male “哥哥”.
  • Incorrect: 他比我小，是我的哥哥。 (Tā bǐ wǒ xiǎo, shì wǒ de gēge.)
  • This is fundamentally wrong. 哥哥 exclusively means older brother. The correct term for a male who is younger than you is 弟弟 (dìdi). Respect for age is paramount.
• Mistake 2: Using “哥哥” for a much older man.
  • Incorrect: (To a 60-year-old man when you are 25) 哥哥，您好！ (Gēge, nín hǎo!)
  • While polite, 哥哥 implies a peer or near-peer relationship (same generation). For a man your parents' age, you should use 叔叔 (shūshu). For a man your grandparents' age, use 爷爷 (yéye).
• Mistake 3: Confusing it with “bro”.
  • While 哥哥 (gēge) can be translated as “big bro,” it is not a perfect “false friend” for the English “bro.” “Bro” in English emphasizes casual camaraderie between peers, regardless of age. 哥哥 carries a much stronger, inherent sense of age-based respect and a slight hierarchy. You use it because someone is older.

• 弟弟 (dìdi) - Younger brother. The direct counterpart to 哥哥.
• 姐姐 (jiějie) - Older sister. The female equivalent.
• 妹妹 (mèimei) - Younger sister.
• 兄弟 (xiōngdì) - A more formal or collective term for “brothers” or the concept of “brotherhood.”
• 大哥 (dàgē) - Eldest brother. Can also be used as a term of respect for the leader of a group or, stereotypically, a mob boss.
• 表哥 (biǎogē) - Older male cousin on your mother's side.
• 堂哥 (tánggē) - Older male cousin on your father's side (i.e., son of your father's brother).
• 小哥哥 (xiǎo gēge) - A modern, informal, and often flirty internet slang term for a handsome young man.
• 哥们儿 (gēmenr) - “Buddies,” “bros,” “homies.” Used between male friends, this term emphasizes peer camaraderie more than age hierarchy.
• 叔叔 (shūshu) - Paternal uncle. Also the proper term of address for any man of your father's generation.