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姐妹 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
姐妹jiěmèisistersHSK 3, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #1929, Medium
姐妹jiěmèisiblingsHSK 3, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #1929, Medium
姐妹jiěmèisister (school, city etc)HSK 3, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #1929, Medium
jiěmèi(jie3mei4)jie mei T3
  1. 1sisters
  2. 2siblings
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March 24, 2026

姐妹jiěmèi(jie3mei4)

姐妹 (jiě mèi) refers to sisters and can also signify close female friends or colleagues, emphasizing a bond similar to that of siblings. It is commonly used to describe familial relationships or close-knit social connections, often in a casual or affectionate manner.

Strokes16Frequency#1929DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the term '姐妹' signifies not just biological sisters but also the strong emotional ties among women, reflecting the importance of female friendships in social structures.

Memory Tip

Imagine two sisters (姐) holding hands, creating a bond (妹). The '姐' looks like a woman with a long dress, symbolizing a sister's nurturing role, while '妹' suggests a younger sister or a friend. Together, they form a strong bond like sisters.

Meanings of 姐妹

jiěmèi(jie3mei4)
1sisters
2siblings
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About 姐妹

姐妹Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

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Podcast: 姐妹

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AI Study Notes for 姐妹

Quick Contrast

姐妹 (sisters) vs 姐 (older sister) — choose 姐妹 to emphasize a collective bond rather than a specific familial role.

Usage Notes

Often used in informal contexts, '姐妹' can also refer to female friends, particularly in phrases like '姐妹情' (sisterly love). Be aware that using it in overly formal situations may seem out of place, so context is key.

HSK Study Tips

While '姐妹' is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it introduces students to compound words. Students should focus on the components of the characters and how they combine to form meanings, as this is a common pattern in Mandarin.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '姐妹' with '兄弟' (xiōngdì) which refers to brothers, using it incorrectly to describe male siblings. Instead, remember '姐妹' is exclusively for sisters or close female friends.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 姐妹

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Component Characters

姐jiěolder sister
HSK 18 strokes女
View full entry
妹mèiyounger sister
HSK 18 strokes女
View full entry

How to say sisters in Chinese

“sisters” in Chinese is姐妹jiěmèi

姐妹 (jiě mèi) refers to sisters and can also signify close female friends or colleagues, emphasizing a bond similar to that of siblings. It is commonly used to describe familial relationships or close-knit social connections, often in a casual or affectionate manner.

When to use 姐妹

Often used in informal contexts, '姐妹' can also refer to female friends, particularly in phrases like '姐妹情' (sisterly love). Be aware that using it in overly formal situations may seem out of place, so context is key.

姐妹 or something close to it

姐妹 (sisters) vs 姐 (older sister) — choose 姐妹 to emphasize a collective bond rather than a specific familial role.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse '姐妹' with '兄弟' (xiōngdì) which refers to brothers, using it incorrectly to describe male siblings. Instead, remember '姐妹' is exclusively for sisters or close female friends.

Write 姐妹

姐
妹

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Frequently Asked Questions about 姐妹

Yes, '姐妹' can be used to refer to close female friends, indicating a bond similar to that of sisters.

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