大哥

• Pinyin: dà gē
• Hanzi breakdown: 大 = pictograph of a person with outstretched arms; 哥 = two 可 (can) stacked, originally a singing/calling sound

Meaning

Eldest brother; big brother. Also a respectful or friendly address for a man slightly older than oneself.

Within the family, refers to the eldest brother. Outside the family, used as a friendly or respectful form of address for men who are a bit older. In some contexts, it can imply a gang leader or boss figure. Tone ranges from affectionate to casual to sarcastic depending on context.

Examples

1. 大哥从小就很照顾我们几个弟弟妹妹。 Our eldest brother has taken care of us younger siblings since he was little.
2. 大哥，请问这附近有银行吗？ Excuse me, sir — is there a bank nearby?
3. 他是我们班上的大哥，大家有问题都找他帮忙。 He's the big brother of our class — everyone goes to him for help with problems.

Usage Guide

Context: family, social, everyday

Tone: friendly

Do Say

• 大哥，你能帮我一个忙吗？(Hey buddy, could you do me a favour?)
• 我大哥在北京工作。(My eldest brother works in Beijing.)

Don't Say

• 对很年长的男性说大哥 (Don't call a much older man 大哥 — it might sound like you're minimising the age gap; use 大叔 or 大爷 for significantly older men)

Origin & History

大 (big/eldest) + 哥 (older brother) — the eldest among brothers, or an older male addressed with respect.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal