大姐

• Pinyin: dà jiě
• Hanzi breakdown: 大 = pictograph of a person with arms spread; 姐 = 女 (woman) + 且 (phonetic component)

Meaning

Eldest sister; big sister. Also a respectful or casual address for a woman somewhat older than oneself.

Within the family, refers to the eldest sister. Outside the family, used to address women who appear slightly older, similar to how 大哥 is used for men. Can be affectionate or slightly casual. In some regions, service workers may be addressed as 大姐.

Examples

1. 大姐在家里最有主见，很多事情都听她的。 Our eldest sister is the most decisive in the family — many things are decided by her.
2. 大姐，这件衣服有小号的吗？ Excuse me, miss — do you have this piece of clothing in a small size?
3. 我大姐比我大五岁，从小就很照顾我。 My eldest sister is five years older than me and has taken care of me since I was little.

Usage Guide

Context: family, social, everyday

Tone: friendly

Do Say

• 大姐，麻烦您帮我拿一下。(Excuse me, miss, could you help me grab that?)
• 我大姐下个月结婚。(My eldest sister is getting married next month.)

Don't Say

• 对年轻女性说大姐 (Don't call a young woman 大姐 — it implies she looks older; use 小姐姐 or 姐姐 for women close to your age)

Origin & History

大 (big/eldest) + 姐 (older sister) — the eldest among sisters, or a respectful address for slightly older women.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal