哥哥

• Pinyin: gē ge
• Hanzi breakdown: 哥 = two 可 stacked — originally a phonetic borrowing, now exclusively means elder brother

Meaning

Elder brother; older brother. The standard term for addressing or referring to one's older brother.

Used for biological older brothers and also extended to older male friends or acquaintances of similar age. In casual speech, 哥 alone is common. Can be combined with a name like 王哥 for familiar address.

Examples

1. 我哥哥今年二十岁。 My older brother is twenty years old this year.
2. 哥哥在北京工作。 My brother works in Beijing.
3. 我和哥哥一起去学校。 I go to school together with my brother.

Usage Guide

Context: family, everyday

Tone: affectionate

Do Say

• 哥哥，你什么时候回来？(Brother, when are you coming back?)
• 我哥哥比我大三岁。(My older brother is three years older than me.)

Don't Say

• 对比自己小的男生说哥哥 (Don't call a younger male 哥哥 — use 弟弟 for younger brothers)

Origin & History

A reduplication of 哥, an ancient word for elder brother. The doubled form adds a familiar, affectionate tone typical of kinship terms in Chinese.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal