Chinese word

姐姐

Pronunciation

Pinyinjiě jiě

Meaning

  • nounolder sister

Example

请问，姐姐在家吗？qǐng wèn jié jiě zài jiā ma

Excuse me, is your older sister home?

Illustration for 姐姐 (older sister)

More examples

我有一个姐姐。wǒ yǒu yí gè jié jiě

I have one older sister.

Core concept

An age-based family label that brings an older woman into a friendly sister role.

Common phrases

  • 我的姐姐wǒ de jié jiě

    my older sister

  • 有姐姐yǒu jié jiě

    have an older sister

  • 姐姐们jié jiě men

    older sisters

Similar words

妹妹mèi mèi: A younger sister.
哥哥gē gē: An older brother.
弟弟dì di: A younger brother.

Definition in Chinese

指自己的年长的姐妹，也可用作对年纪比自己大的女性的亲切称呼。zhǐ zì jǐ de nián zhǎng de jiě mèi yě kě yòng zuò duì nián jì bǐ zì jǐ dà de nǚ xìng de qīn qiè chēng hū

Word origin

姐姐 (jiějiě, "older sister") comes from the reduplication of 姐 (jiě, "older sister"), a common way to make a kinship term sound familiar in direct address.

Usage tips

  • Among strangers, this friendly form can feel too familiar in a formal setting, so a neutral title is safer until the relationship is clear.

Other meanings

  • sisnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word