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March 24, 2026
哥哥gēge(ge1ge5)
哥哥 (gēge) means 'older brother' in Mandarin. It is commonly used in family contexts to refer to one's elder brother, emphasizing respect and affection. The term can also be used in informal settings to refer to a male friend or peer who is older.
Strokes20Frequency#846DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of elder siblings is significant, often reflecting Confucian values of respect for elders. The term 哥哥 can denote not only familial bonds but also social hierarchies in friendships and community.
Memory Tip
Think of 哥哥 (gēge) as a big 'geese' (sounds like 'ge') that guides its younger siblings. The character 哥 features the radical 可 (kě), which can remind you of something that is 'possible' or 'able,' symbolizing an older brother's role as a protector and guide.
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AI Study Notes for 哥哥
Quick Contrast
弟弟 (dìdi) - use 哥哥 for an older male sibling, while 弟弟 refers to a younger male sibling.
Usage Notes
Be careful with tone pronunciation; 哥 (gē) uses the first tone, while 哥哥 (gēge) should be pronounced with a neutral tone on the second 'ge.' Common collocations include '哥哥姐姐' (older brother and older sister) and '哥哥妹妹' (older brother and younger sister). In informal contexts, use the term affectionately among friends.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 哥哥 connects with other family-related vocabulary like 妹妹 (mèimei, younger sister) and 姐姐 (jiějie, older sister). Students should focus on mastering family terms to hold basic conversations about relatives.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse the tones, pronouncing 哥哥 as *gégé instead of gēge. Another common mistake is using 哥哥 to refer to a younger brother, which should actually be 弟弟 (dìdi).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 哥哥
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哥哥 (gēge) means 'older brother' in Mandarin. It is commonly used in family contexts to refer to one's elder brother, emphasizing respect and affection. The term can also be used in informal settings to refer to a male friend or peer who is older.
When to use 哥哥
Be careful with tone pronunciation; 哥 (gē) uses the first tone, while 哥哥 (gēge) should be pronounced with a neutral tone on the second 'ge.' Common collocations include '哥哥姐姐' (older brother and older sister) and '哥哥妹妹' (older brother and younger sister). In informal contexts, use the term affectionately among friends.
哥哥 or something close to it
弟弟 (dìdi) - use 哥哥 for an older male sibling, while 弟弟 refers to a younger male sibling.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse the tones, pronouncing 哥哥 as *gégé instead of gēge. Another common mistake is using 哥哥 to refer to a younger brother, which should actually be 弟弟 (dìdi).
Write 哥哥
哥
哥
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Grammar Patterns of 哥哥
哥哥 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
