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娣 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
娣dìyounger sister; younger brother's wifeg, 10 strokes, radical 女, rank #65737, Very Hard
娣dìwife of a younger brotherunknown, 10 strokes, radical 女, rank #65737, Very Hard
dì(di4)di T4
  1. 1younger sister; younger brother's wife
  2. 2wife of a younger brother
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March 24, 2026

娣dì(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.

Strokes10Radical女Frequency#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

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

By ear

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About 娣

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

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Podcast: 娣

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AI study notes for 娣

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.

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

Origin

娣 = 女 + 弟. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 娣

IDS Structure⿰女弟
娣Full character
=
女nü3
left
弟di4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 娣?

How to say younger sister; younger brother's wife in Chinese

“younger sister; younger brother's wife” in Chinese is娣dì

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.

When to use 娣

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.

What learners get wrong

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'.

Write 娣

娣

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

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Word Family of 娣

Words containing this character1
娣dìwife of a younger brother

Frequently asked questions about 娣

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

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