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March 24, 2026
嫂sǎo(sao3)
The character 嫂 (sǎo) refers specifically to an older brother's wife, commonly known as a sister-in-law in English. It is used primarily in family contexts to denote this particular relationship within the extended family structure. In Mandarin, it embodies a sense of respect and familial hierarchy.
Strokes12Radical女Frequency#85762DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the relationship with one's sister-in-law can be significant, with traditional roles often emphasizing respect and support for elder family members, including the elder brother's wife. This reflects the importance of family hierarchy in Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'sister' (嫂 sounds like 'sao') who has a 'saw'—she's cutting through the family ties, representing the bond between you and your older brother's wife. The character 嫂 visually combines 'woman' (女) with a sounding component that evokes familial connections.
Meanings of 嫂
sǎo(sao3)
1older brother's wife
2sister-in-law
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 嫂
嫂Simplified
12Strokes
女Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#65535Frequency Rank
Podcast: 嫂
Podcast: 嫂
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AI Study Notes for 嫂
Quick Contrast
嫂 (sǎo) vs 姐 (jiě) — use 嫂 when referring specifically to an older brother's wife, while 姐 is used for an older sister.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'sister' (嫂 sounds like 'sao') who has a 'saw'—she's cutting through the family ties, representing the bond between you and your older brother's wife. The character 嫂 visually combines 'woman' (女) with a sounding component that evokes familial connections.
Usage Notes
When using 嫂, remember it specifically refers to the wife of an older brother; it is not used for younger brothers' wives, which would be 妹 (mèi). This term is more formal and respectful, often used in family gatherings or discussions about family. Be cautious with pronunciation, as the third tone (sǎo) can be confused with other similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
While 嫂 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is useful for learners at higher levels exploring family terms. Focus on the context of family relationships when studying, and compare with other kinship terms like 妈 (mā, mother) and 兄 (xiōng, brother) to grasp family dynamics.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the relationship with one's sister-in-law can be significant, with traditional roles often emphasizing respect and support for elder family members, including the elder brother's wife. This reflects the importance of family hierarchy in Chinese society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 嫂 with 妹, mistakenly using it for a younger brother's wife. For example, saying '我妹妹的嫂' (wǒ mèimei de sǎo) would be incorrect; the right term for younger brother's wife is 妹妹的嫂子 (mèimei de sǎozi).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嫂
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Grammar Patterns of 嫂
嫂 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
虎妞一把将他扯过去, 好像老 ____子 疼爱小叔那样.
Tigress pulled him over, rather like an affectionate elder sister - in - law .
dà gē jì rán ài tā, , wéi shí mó yòu yào qǔ xiàn zài de dà?
Since Big Brother loved her, why did he marry Jui - chueh?
5
娶了大嫂以后为什么又依然想着梅表姐?
qǔ le dà sǎo yǐ hòu wéi shí mó yòu yī rán xiǎng zháo méi biǎo jiě?
After marrying Jui - chueh why was he still thinking of Cousin Mei?
Cultural Notes for 嫂
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the relationship with one's sister-in-law can be significant, with traditional roles often emphasizing respect and support for elder family members, including the elder brother's wife. This reflects the importance of family hierarchy in Chinese society.
Word Family of 嫂
Words Containing This Character8
嫂子sǎozisister-in-law
嫂sǎosister-in-law
大嫂sister-in-law
嫂嫂sister-in-law
军嫂serviceman's wife軍嫂
表嫂wife of older male cousin via female line
兄嫂elder brother and his wife
空嫂married stewardess of mature age
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 嫂子 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 嫂
The correct pronunciation is sǎo, with a falling-rising tone on the 'ǎo'.
No, 嫂 specifically designates an older brother's wife; you would use 妹 (mèi) for a younger brother's wife.
No, 嫂 specifically refers to a married woman in relation to her husband's elder brother.
