jiěmèi: 姐妹 - Sisters, Close Female Friends

• Keywords: 姐妹, jiěmèi, Chinese word for sister, sisterhood in China, close female friends in Chinese, guīmì, 闺蜜, Chinese kinship terms, older sister, younger sister, Chinese relationships, what does jiemei mean.
• Summary: Discover the deep meaning of 姐妹 (jiěmèi), a fundamental term in Chinese culture. While it literally translates to “sisters,” its meaning extends far beyond biological family to describe the profound, loyal, and supportive bond between close female friends. This page explores its cultural significance, modern usage from daily conversation to social media, and how it differs from the Western concept of “best friends.”

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiěmèi
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: Sisters; a term of address or reference for close female friends, implying a sisterly bond.
• In a Nutshell: 姐妹 (jiěmèi) is the all-encompassing Chinese word for “sisters.” However, its real power lies in its figurative use. Calling a friend your `姐妹` elevates the relationship to that of family. It signifies a deep trust, unwavering loyalty, and a shared journey through life's ups and downs, reflecting a core cultural value of chosen family and collective support.

• 姐 (jiě): Older sister. The radical on the left, 女 (nǚ), means “woman” or “female,” indicating the character relates to a female person.
• 妹 (mèi): Younger sister. This character also contains the 女 (nǚ) radical, again signifying “woman.”
• The combination 姐妹 (jiěmèi) literally means “older sister(s) and younger sister(s),” creating a complete term that covers all sisters, regardless of age order. This simple combination forms the foundation for its broader, more profound cultural meaning.

In Chinese culture, relationships are often viewed through a familial lens, and 姐妹 (jiěmèi) is a prime example of this. The bond it represents is not just a casual friendship but a deep, committed relationship built on mutual support and loyalty. A key difference from the Western concept of a “best friend” or “BFF” is the implied sense of obligation and shared fate. While a best friend is someone you have fun with and confide in, a `姐妹` is someone you are fundamentally responsible for, and who is responsible for you. This bond provides a crucial social and emotional support system, especially in a society that can place immense pressure on individuals. It's a relationship where you celebrate each other's successes, defend each other fiercely, and offer a shoulder to cry on without judgment. This “sisterhood” is a powerful force, creating a private, safe space for women to be themselves. It's less like a casual friendship and more like a self-formed clan.

The use of `姐妹` is extremely common and has several key applications:

• Referring to Biological Sisters: This is its most literal and direct meaning. You use it to talk about your actual sisters.
• Referring to Close Female Friends: This is the most common figurative use. Women of all ages refer to their closest friends as `姐妹`. It's a term of endearment and a public declaration of the relationship's importance. You'll frequently see it in social media posts (e.g., “A fun day out with my `姐妹`!”).
• Group Identity: A group of close female friends will often refer to themselves as “我们姐妹几个” (wǒmen jiěmèi jǐ ge), meaning “we sisters.” A bridal party is often called a `姐妹团 (jiěmèi tuán)`.
• Informal Address (Less Common): In the past, it could be used to informally and kindly address an unrelated woman of a similar age. However, in modern urban China, terms like `美女 (měinǚ - beautiful girl)` or simply `你好 (nǐ hǎo)` are far more common for addressing strangers.

The connotation is almost always warm, positive, and informal. It signals intimacy and trust.

• Example 1:
  • 我家有三个孩子，我和我的两个姐妹。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jiā yǒu sān ge háizi, wǒ hé wǒ de liǎng ge jiěmèi.
  • English: There are three children in my family: me and my two sisters.
  • Analysis: This is the most literal usage, referring to biological sisters.
• Example 2:
  • 她不是我的亲姐姐，但她是我最好的姐妹。
  • Pinyin: Tā bú shì wǒ de qīn jiějie, dàn tā shì wǒ zuì hǎo de jiěmèi.
  • English: She isn't my biological sister, but she is my best “sister” (close friend).
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the figurative meaning, explicitly distinguishing between a biological sister (`亲姐姐`) and a chosen one (`姐妹`).
• Example 3:
  • 周末我经常和我的姐妹们一起逛街。
  • Pinyin: Zhōumò wǒ jīngcháng hé wǒ de jiěmèimen yīqǐ guàngjiē.
  • English: On weekends, I often go shopping with my “sisters” (my girlfriends).
  • Analysis: Here, `姐妹们 (jiěmèimen)` is the plural form, referring to a whole group of close female friends. This is a very common, everyday expression.
• Example 4:
  • 好姐妹就是，不管发生什么，她都会在你身边。
  • Pinyin: Hǎo jiěmèi jiùshì, bùguǎn fāshēng shénme, tā dōu huì zài nǐ shēnbiān.
  • English: A good “sister” (a true friend) is someone who will be by your side no matter what happens.
  • Analysis: The term `好姐妹 (hǎo jiěmèi)` emphasizes the quality of the friendship, similar to “a true friend” or “a great sister.”
• Example 5:
  • 我们姐妹俩的感情特别好。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen jiěmèi liǎ de gǎnqíng tèbié hǎo.
  • English: The bond between us two sisters is especially good.
  • Analysis: `姐妹俩 (jiěmèi liǎ)` is a common colloquial way to say “the two sisters.” This can refer to either biological or figurative sisters.
• Example 6:
  • 别担心，有我们这群姐妹支持你呢！
  • Pinyin: Bié dānxīn, yǒu wǒmen zhè qún jiěmèi zhīchí nǐ ne!
  • English: Don't worry, you have this group of “sisters” here to support you!
  • Analysis: This shows `姐妹` used to express group solidarity and emotional support, a core aspect of its meaning.
• Example 7:
  • 这是我的大学姐妹团，我们毕业十年了还经常联系。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒ de dàxué jiěmèi tuán, wǒmen bìyè shí nián le hái jīngcháng liánxì.
  • English: This is my college “sister” group; we still keep in touch often ten years after graduation.
  • Analysis: The term `姐妹团 (jiěmèi tuán)` refers to a clique or tight-knit group of female friends, often formed in school or at work.
• Example 8:
  • 她失恋了，我得去陪陪我那可怜的姐妹。
  • Pinyin: Tā shīliàn le, wǒ děi qù péipei wǒ nà kělián de jiěmèi.
  • English: She broke up with her boyfriend, I have to go accompany my poor “sister.”
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the sense of duty and care inherent in the `姐妹` relationship. You show up when your friend needs you.
• Example 9:
  • 她们俩是情同姐妹的好朋友。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen liǎ shì qíng tóng jiěmèi de hǎo péngyou.
  • English: The two of them are good friends whose bond is as deep as sisters.
  • Analysis: This uses the idiom `情同姐妹 (qíng tóng jiěmèi)`, which literally means “affection same as sisters,” to formally describe a very deep friendship.
• Example 10:
  • 男人有兄弟，我们女人有姐妹。
  • Pinyin: Nánrén yǒu xiōngdì, wǒmen nǚrén yǒu jiěmèi.
  • English: Men have their “brothers” (bros), and we women have our “sisters.”
  • Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts `姐妹` with its male equivalent, `兄弟 (xiōngdì)`, highlighting it as a cornerstone of female social bonds.

• False Friend Alert: Do not confuse 姐妹 (jiěmèi) with the general term for a female friend, 女性朋友 (nǚxìng péngyou). Calling someone your `姐妹` implies a deep, familial bond of loyalty and intimacy. A `女性朋友` could simply be an acquaintance or colleague. Using `姐妹` for a casual friend would be inappropriate and might seem insincere.
• Takes Time to Build: You don't call someone you just met a `姐妹`. This relationship is earned over time through shared experiences and proven loyalty.
  • Incorrect: 我昨天在派对上认识了一个新姐妹。(Wǒ zuótiān zài pàiduì shàng rènshi le yí ge xīn jiěmèi.)
  • Why it's wrong: This is like saying “I met a new family member yesterday.” The bond isn't instant. The correct term would be `新朋友 (xīn péngyou - new friend)`.
• Exclusively Female: This term is used by women for other women. Men do not use `姐妹` to refer to their friends. The male equivalent is 兄弟 (xiōngdì).

• 闺蜜 (guīmì): A very popular and modern term for a female “bestie.” It comes from “boudoir honey” and implies an even greater level of intimacy and secret-sharing than `姐妹`, often between just two people.
• 兄弟 (xiōngdì): The direct male equivalent of `姐妹`. It means “brothers” both literally and figuratively for a tight-knit group of male friends.
• 姐姐 (jiějie): The specific word for “older sister.”
• 妹妹 (mèimei): The specific word for “younger sister.”
• 朋友 (péngyou): The general, neutral word for “friend.” It lacks the depth and familial commitment of `姐妹`.
• 哥们儿 (gēmenr): A very colloquial, northern-China term for “bros,” “buddies,” or “dudes.” It's an informal equivalent of `兄弟`.
• 姐妹情 (jiěmèi qíng): A noun meaning “sisterly affection” or “the bond of sisterhood.”
• 情同姐妹 (qíng tóng jiěmèi): A four-character idiom (chengyu) used to describe a friendship between women that is as deep and strong as that of biological sisters.