大哥
dàgē/tä⁵¹ kɤ⁵⁵/
In Chinese, "big bro" is translated as 大哥 (dàgē).
大哥 is an informal term used for one's older brother. Beyond biological siblings, it is used to address a male peer who is slightly older or to show respect to a man in a social setting.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 大 (big/great) and 哥 (older brother), literally meaning "big elder brother".
Which one should you use?
While 大哥 refers to the eldest, if there are multiple older brothers, they are often numbered, such as 二哥 for the second eldest.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is dàgē (/tä⁵¹ kɤ⁵⁵/).
When do people say it?
In certain contexts, such as in triad-related media or street slang, calling someone 大哥 can imply they are a leader or a "boss" figure.
Did you know?
- In many Chinese social circles, calling a stranger 大哥 is a common way to get their attention or ask for help, similar to saying 'sir' or 'mate' in English.
- In the context of professional hierarchy or social networking, addressing a superior or a client as 大哥 can be a tactical way to build 'guanxi', or personal connection, through manufactured intimacy.
- In some modern digital spaces and gaming communities, 大哥 is used as slang for a 'whale' or a high-spending player who provides resources for the rest of the team.
Examples in context
- 我亲爱的哥哥，你真棒！My dear big bro, you're awesome!
- 嗨，老哥，帮我一下好吗？Hey, big bro, can you help me out?
- 嘿，哥啊，我们一起吃饭吧！Hey, big bro, let's have a meal together!
- 兄弟，你是我最好的朋友。Big bro, you are my best friend.
- 他是我的大哥。Tā shì wǒ de dàgē.He is my big bro.
- 大哥，请帮个忙。Dàgē, qǐng bāng gè máng.Big bro, please help me out.
- 谢谢大哥的照顾。Xièxiè dàgē de zhàogù.Thanks for looking after me, big bro.
Example conversation
晓雯 asks 浩然 for a favor at a party.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen浩然大哥，你可以帮我拿一下包吗？Hàorán dàgē, nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ ná yīxià bāo ma?Big bro Haoran, can you hold my bag for a second?
- 浩然 Haoran没问题，交给我就好。Méi wèntí, jiāo gěi wǒ jiù hǎo.No problem, just leave it to me.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen太感谢你了。Tài gǎnxiè nǐ le.Thank you so much.
- 浩然 Haoran不用谢，举手之劳。Bùyòng xiè, jǔshǒuzhīláo.Don't mention it, it's nothing.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 大哥, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
