What does it mean word for word?
The word 弟弟 is a reduplication of the character 弟, which means younger brother.
Which one should you use?
While 弟弟 is the standard term, other forms exist for specific contexts: 小弟弟 is an endearing way to refer to a younger brother and 老弟 is an informal way to say "little brother" often used in Mandarin and some northern dialects. For a brotherhood forged through a sworn oath, the formal term 义弟 (sworn brother) is used.
Is it said differently in some regions?
老弟 is a way to say "little brother" that is frequently used in Mandarin and some northern dialects.
How does it change in a sentence?
弟弟 is a noun and does not change its form to indicate plurality. You must use context or a measure word to indicate that there are multiple younger brothers.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is dìdi (/ti⁵¹ d̥i¹/).
Did you know?
- While 弟弟 is a family term, the phrase 小弟弟 is often used as a childish euphemism for a young boy's penis.
- Although 弟弟 refers to a younger brother, in some social circles, a woman might call a younger male romantic partner 弟弟 to emphasize a protective or nurturing dynamic.
- When using the informal 老弟, it is common to see it paired with 'old' (lǎo), even if the person is actually quite young, to create a sense of camaraderie.
Examples in context
- 弟弟出去了。My little brother has gone out.This sentence is useful for showing the use of 弟弟 to indicate someone has gone out.Tatoeba #13822753 by LeviHighway, translation #13822761 by frpzzd
- 湯姆是你的弟弟。Tom is your little brother.This sentence shows how to identify someone as a 弟弟.Tatoeba #5651319 by xjjAstrus, translation #7803016 by sharris123
- 第一次听到弟弟称呼我姐姐。This is the first time I've heard my little brother call me "big sister."This sentence illustrates a context where a 弟弟 is addressing an older sister.Tatoeba #8588296 by slo_oth, translation #10251190 by bekindtoall
- 他是我弟弟。He is my little brother.
- 我的小弟就是我的得力助手。My little brother is my right-hand man.
- 我的义弟是我最值得依靠的人。My sworn brother is the person I can rely on the most.
- 快点，弟弟，我们要赶上末班车！Hurry up, little brother, we need to catch the last bus!
- 老弟，有什么烦恼尽管告诉我。Little brother, feel free to tell me if you have any worries.
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their families at a cafe.
- 志强 Zhiqiang你有弟弟吗？Nǐ yǒu dìdi ma?Do you have a little brother?
- 佳怡 Jiayi我有一个弟弟。Wǒ yǒu yī gè dìdi.I have one little brother.
- 志强 Zhiqiang你弟弟多大了？Nǐ dìdi duō dà le?How old is your little brother?
- 佳怡 Jiayi他现在十岁了。Tā xiànzài shí suì le.He is ten years old now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 弟弟, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
