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娣 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
younger sister; younger brother's wifeg, 10 strokes, radical 女, rank #65737, Very Hard
wife of a younger brotherunknown, 10 strokes, radical 女, rank #65737, Very Hard
(di4) T4
  1. 1younger sister; younger brother's wife
  2. 2wife of a younger brother
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(di4)

The character 娣 (dì) refers to a younger sister or the wife of a younger brother. It is used in familial contexts, particularly in traditional family structures, and carries a sense of affection and respect towards younger female relatives.

Strokes10RadicalFrequency#65737DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, familial hierarchies are significant, and the term 娣 reflects the importance placed on relationships within the family, particularly among siblings and their spouses.

Memory Tip

Imagine a younger sister (娣) who is always dressed up in a beautiful dress (the radical 女 means 'woman'). Picture her inviting you to a family gathering where her husband (the younger brother) is present, helping you remember both the character's form and pronunciation.

Meanings of 娣

(di4)
1younger sister; younger brother's wife
2wife of a younger brother
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 娣

Simplified
10Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 娣

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 娣

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a younger sister (娣) who is always dressed up in a beautiful dress (the radical 女 means 'woman'). Picture her inviting you to a family gathering where her husband (the younger brother) is present, helping you remember both the character's form and pronunciation.

Usage Notes

This character is primarily used in formal or literary contexts and may not be common in everyday conversation. Avoid confusing 娣 with similar characters like 妹 (mèi), which also means younger sister but is more widely used. Pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although 娣 is not included in the HSK levels, it is beneficial for learners studying family-related vocabulary. Focus on recognizing familial terms and their specific contexts, as they often appear in traditional texts.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, familial hierarchies are significant, and the term 娣 reflects the importance placed on relationships within the family, particularly among siblings and their spouses.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 娣 with 妹 when trying to refer to a younger sister. For example, saying '我有一个娣' (I have a younger sister) is incorrect; instead, it should be '我有一个妹妹'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 娣

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Etymology of 娣

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 弟 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

woman

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 娣?

Decomposition of 娣

IDS Structure⿰女弟
Full Character
=
nü3
left
di4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 娣?

Write 娣

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 娣

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, familial hierarchies are significant, and the term 娣 reflects the importance placed on relationships within the family, particularly among siblings and their spouses.

Word Family of 娣

Words Containing This Character1
wife of a younger brother
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 娣 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 娣

No, 娣 is more commonly found in literary contexts and might not be used frequently in everyday conversation.