Chinese word

堂妹

Pronunciation

Pinyintáng mèi

Meaning

  • nounyounger female cousin

Example

堂妹今天来我家了。táng mèi jīn tiān lái wǒ jiā le

My younger female cousin came to my house today.

Illustration for 堂妹 (younger female cousin)

More examples

我常和堂妹一起玩游戏。wǒ cháng hé táng mèi yì qǐ wán yóu xì

I often play games with my younger female cousin.

Core concept

A younger female cousin on the father's branch of the family tree.

Common phrases

  • 我的堂妹wǒ de táng mèi

    my younger female cousin

  • 有个堂妹yǒu gè táng mèi

    have a younger female cousin

  • 和堂妹玩hé táng mèi wán

    play with a younger female cousin

Similar words

表妹biǎo mèi: A younger female cousin from the mother's side or a different family branch.
表姐biáo jiě: An older female cousin from the mother's side or a different family branch.
堂姐táng jiě: An older female cousin from the father's family branch.
堂兄táng xiōng: An older male cousin from the father's family branch.

Definition in Chinese

指父亲一方的兄弟所生的女儿，年龄小于自己的女性亲属。zhǐ fù qīn yì fāng de xiōng dì suǒ shēng de nǚ ér nián líng xiǎo yú zì jǐ de nǚ xìng qīn shǔ

Word origin

堂 (táng, "family branch") + 妹 (mèi, "younger sister") forms a term that marks both the paternal family line and the relative's younger age.

Usage tips

  • English cousin does not show family side, age, or gender, so this Chinese term carries details that English often leaves to context.

Other meanings

  • paternal cousinnoun
  • younger cousinnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word