Chinese word

弟弟

Pronunciation

Pinyindì di

Meaning

  • nounyounger brother

Example

弟弟比我小三岁。dì di bǐ wǒ xiǎo sān suì

My younger brother is three years younger than me.

Illustration for 弟弟 (younger brother)

More examples

我有两个弟弟。wǒ yǒu liǎng gè dì di

I have two younger brothers.

Core concept

The younger male member of a sibling relationship, seen from the older sibling's place in the family.

Common phrases

  • 我的弟弟wǒ de dì di

    my younger brother

  • 弟弟比我小dì di bǐ wǒ xiǎo

    younger than me

  • 有弟弟yǒu dì di

    have a younger brother

Similar words

哥哥gē gē: An older male sibling in relation to the speaker.
姐姐jié jiě: An older female sibling in relation to the speaker.
妹妹mèi mèi: A younger female sibling in relation to the speaker.
兄弟xiōng dì: A term for siblings born to the same parents, used collectively.

Definition in Chinese

口语常用的亲昵称谓，指比自己年纪小的男性兄弟，用于称呼或谈论家庭成员。kóu yǔ cháng yòng de qīn nì chēng wèi zhǐ bǐ zì jǐ nián jì xiǎo de nán xìng xiōng dì yòng yú chēng hū huò tán lùn jiā tíng chéng yuán

Word origin

The word is built from 弟 (dì, "younger sibling") repeated in the affectionate spoken pattern 弟弟 (dìdi, "younger brother").

Usage tips

  • English often uses a person's name or just brother in family talk, while Chinese commonly keeps the kinship term as a natural way to call or mention a close family member.

Opposites

Word lists with this word