How to Say "Brother and Sister" in Chinese

兄妹

xiōngmèi

In Chinese, the phrase for "brother and sister" is 兄妹 (xiōngmèi).

The term 兄妹 refers specifically to a sibling pair consisting of an older brother and a younger sister.

What does it mean word for word?

The word is a compound of 兄, meaning "older brother" and 妹, meaning "younger sister".

The term changes based on the gender of the siblings. If the pair consists of an older sister and a younger brother, you should use 姐弟.

xiōngmèi

While 兄妹 refers to a brother and sister, the general term for 'siblings' regardless of gender or age is 兄弟姐妹, which literally translates to 'older brother, younger brother, older sister and younger sister'.
While 兄妹 describes a biological relationship, the term 兄 is often used in historical Chinese literature to address a close male friend or a peer to show respect and intimacy.
The concept of sibling hierarchy in the terms 兄妹 and 姐弟 reflects a Confucian social value where age determines the level of respect and responsibility within a family.

我和她是兄妹。
She and I are brother and sister.
This sentence is useful for demonstrating how to use 兄妹 to describe a relationship.
Tatoeba #5595164 by verdastelo9604, translation #1989050 by Eldad
他们是一对兄妹。
Tāmen shì yī duì xiōngmèi.
They are a brother and sister pair.
这对兄妹感情很好。
Zhè duì xiōngmèi gǎnqíng hěn hǎo.
This brother and sister have a great relationship.

Sources

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