姐
jie
In Chinese, jie is the term used to refer to an older sister or an older female relative.
姐 is used to address or refer to an older sister or an older female relative. In casual social settings, jie is used to address women who are slightly older than the speaker, even if they are not related.
Which one should you use?
While 姐 can be used as a standalone address, it is often preceded by a surname or a given name (e.g., Wang jie) to show respect to a female acquaintance.
How does it change in a sentence?
Doubling the character to 姐姐 makes the term more affectionate or emphasizes the relationship, often used by children or when speaking of one's own biological sister.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is jie.
Did you know?
- Addressing a woman as 大姐 ('big sister') can be a social minefield, as it may inadvertently suggest that the woman is middle-aged rather than just slightly older than you.
- In the popular online subculture of 'sisterhood' or 'queen' energy, the term 姐 is used by women to refer to themselves in the third person to project confidence, independence and authority.
- In certain contexts, particularly in underworld or gang-related slang, the term for 'big sister' is used to denote a high-ranking female leader or a powerful protector.
Examples in context
- 我姐在上海工作。Wǒ jiě zài Shànghǎi gōngzuò.My older sister works in Shanghai.
- 王姐，请问您方便吗？Wáng jiě, qǐngwèn nín fāngbiàn ma?Sister Wang, excuse me, are you free?
- 她是我亲姐。Tā shì wǒ qīn jiě.She is my biological older sister.
