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舅舅 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
舅舅jiùjiumother's brotherHSK 6, n, 26 strokes, rank #6548, Hard
舅舅jiùjiumaternal uncle (informal)HSK 6, n, 26 strokes, rank #6548, Hard
jiùjiu(jiu4jiu5)jiu jiu T4
  1. 1mother's brother
  2. 2maternal uncle (informal)
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March 24, 2026

舅舅jiùjiu(jiu4jiu5)

舅舅 (jiùjiu) refers to a maternal uncle, specifically the brother of one's mother. This term is used informally to address or refer to one's mother's brother, and is commonly used in family contexts and conversations about relatives.

Strokes26Frequency#6548DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, family relationships are emphasized, and the term 舅舅 reflects the importance of maternal connections. Family gatherings often involve uncles and aunts playing significant roles, showcasing the close-knit nature of familial ties.

Memory Tip

Imagine a jovial uncle ('舅舅') who always brings joy to family gatherings. The character 舅 has the radical for 'speech' (舌) inside it, suggesting that this uncle always has something to say, making him a lively presence at family events.

Meanings of 舅舅

jiùjiu(jiu4jiu5)
1mother's brother
2maternal uncle (informal)
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About 舅舅

舅舅Simplified
26Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#6548Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 舅舅

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AI Study Notes for 舅舅

Quick Contrast

舅舅 (jiùjiu) vs 叔叔 (shūshu): use 舅舅 for maternal uncle, while 叔叔 refers to paternal uncle.

Usage Notes

When using 舅舅, remember it's an informal term, so it's more appropriate in casual conversations rather than formal contexts. Be careful not to confuse it with 叔叔 (shūshu), which refers to a paternal uncle. Common collocations include '我的舅舅' (my maternal uncle).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 5 word, 舅舅 connects well with other family-related vocabulary like 妈妈 (māma - mother) and 兄弟 (xiōngdì - brother). Focus on using it in sentences about family to reinforce your understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 舅舅 with 叔叔 (shūshu), which means paternal uncle. An example mistake would be saying '我的叔叔' (wǒ de shūshu) when referring to one's maternal uncle instead of '我的舅舅' (wǒ de jiùjiu).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 舅舅

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Component Characters

舅jiùmaternal uncle
13 strokes臼
View full entry
舅jiùmaternal uncle
13 strokes臼
View full entry

How to say mother's brother in Chinese

“mother's brother” in Chinese is舅舅jiùjiu

舅舅 (jiùjiu) refers to a maternal uncle, specifically the brother of one's mother. This term is used informally to address or refer to one's mother's brother, and is commonly used in family contexts and conversations about relatives.

When to use 舅舅

When using 舅舅, remember it's an informal term, so it's more appropriate in casual conversations rather than formal contexts. Be careful not to confuse it with 叔叔 (shūshu), which refers to a paternal uncle. Common collocations include '我的舅舅' (my maternal uncle).

舅舅 or something close to it

舅舅 (jiùjiu) vs 叔叔 (shūshu): use 舅舅 for maternal uncle, while 叔叔 refers to paternal uncle.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 舅舅 with 叔叔 (shūshu), which means paternal uncle. An example mistake would be saying '我的叔叔' (wǒ de shūshu) when referring to one's maternal uncle instead of '我的舅舅' (wǒ de jiùjiu).

Write 舅舅

舅
舅

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Frequently Asked Questions about 舅舅

It is pronounced as jiùjiu, with the first syllable using the fourth tone and the second syllable using the fifth tone.

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