noun HSK 2
younger sister
Meaning
This character refers to a younger sister, specifically a female sibling who is younger than the speaker. It's rarely used alone in modern Mandarin and almost always appears in compound words like 妹妹 (mèimei, younger sister) or 姐妹 (jiěmèi, sisters).
Usage
Native speakers typically use the duplicated form 妹妹 rather than 妹 alone when addressing or referring to a younger sister. The single character 妹 appears mainly in compounds. It's a kinship term that reflects the importance of age hierarchy in Chinese family relationships.
Examples
- 01我有一个妹妹，她今年十岁。, .I have a younger sister; she is ten years old this year.
- 02她和她的姐妹们关系很好。.She has a very good relationship with her sisters.
Measure words
- 个一个妹妹
Common collocations
- 妹妹younger sister
- 姐妹sisters
- 表妹younger female cousin
- 堂妹younger paternal female cousin
Antonyms
Origin
The character combines the 女 (nǚ, woman/female) radical with 未 (wèi), which originally meant 'not yet' or 'immature,' suggesting a younger female family member.