兄弟

• Pinyin: xiōng dì
• Hanzi breakdown: 兄 = 口 (mouth) + 儿 (son) — the elder son who speaks; 弟 = 弓 (bow) + 丨+ 廿 (phonetic components)

Meaning

Brothers; male siblings. Also used informally to mean 'buddy' or 'mate'.

In its literal sense, refers to male siblings, with 兄 meaning elder brother and 弟 meaning younger brother. In informal speech, 兄弟 is widely used among male friends to mean 'bro' or 'buddy,' regardless of family ties. The tone shifts from formal to very casual depending on context.

Examples

1. 他有两个兄弟，哥哥在北京工作，弟弟还在上大学。 He has two brothers — his older brother works in Beijing and his younger brother is still at university.
2. 兄弟之间应该互相支持，遇到困难要共同面对。 Brothers should support each other and face difficulties together when they arise.
3. 他和邻居从小一起长大，感情深得像亲兄弟一样。 He and his neighbour grew up together from a young age, and their bond is as deep as that of real brothers.

Usage Guide

Context: family, friendship, everyday

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 他们两兄弟感情很好，从来不吵架。(The two brothers have a very close bond and never argue.)
• 兄弟，帮我一个忙，好不好？(Bro, do me a favour, would you? — casual register)

Don't Say

• 用兄弟称呼女性，如她是我的兄弟。(Don't use 兄弟 to refer to female friends or siblings — use 姐妹 for sisters or close female friendships.)

Origin & History

Compound of 兄 (elder brother) and 弟 (younger brother), representing the full range of the male sibling relationship.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal