兄弟姐妹
xiōngdì jiěmèi
The English word "sibling" can be translated into Chinese as 兄弟姐妹 (xiōngdì jiěmèi). If unsure, use 兄弟姐妹. Wiktionary also lists 兄弟 (xiōngdì) and 姐妹 (jiěmèi).
Meaning: person who shares same parents (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 兄弟姐妹 | xiōngdì jiěmèi |
| 兄弟 | xiōngdì |
| 姐妹 | jiěmèi |
| 同胞 | tóngbāo |
兄弟姐妹 is the most common way to refer to one's siblings in a general, conversational sense.
Which one should you use?
While 兄弟姐妹 refers to siblings of mixed genders, 兄弟 specifically refers to brothers and 姐妹 specifically refers to sisters. However, in a colloquial context, 兄弟 can also be used to refer to siblings in general.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
兄弟姐妹 is used for general, conversational purposes. 同胞 is a more formal term that refers specifically to brothers and sisters who share the same biological parents, and it can also be used in a poetic or official sense to mean a compatriot or fellow countryman.
How do you pronounce it?
xiōngdì jiěmèi
Did you know?
- If you are referring to siblings in a formal written document, you might use 手足 (shǒuzú), which literally means 'hands and feet'.
- The word 同胞 literally translates to 'same placenta', emphasizing a biological connection through birth rather than just a shared household.
- The character for 'older brother' 兄 historically depicted a person with a large mouth, possibly symbolizing the authority to give orders to younger siblings.
Examples in context
- 他们是我的兄弟姐妹。They are my siblings.
- 你有几个兄弟姐妹？How many siblings do you have?
- 我有三个兄弟姐妹。Wǒ yǒu sān gè xiōng dì jiě mèi.I have three siblings.
- 他没有兄弟姐妹。Tā méiyǒu xiōng dì jiě mèi.He has no siblings.
- 兄弟姐妹之间的关系很重要。Xiōng dì jiě mèi zhī jiān de guān xì hěn zhòng yào.The relationship between siblings is very important.
Example conversation
Yuting and Zhiqiang are chatting about their families.
- 志强 Zhiqiang雨婷，你有兄弟姐妹吗？Yǔtíng, nǐ yǒu xiōngdì jiěmèi ma?Yuting, do you have any siblings?
- 雨婷 Yuting我有一个哥哥和一个妹妹。Wǒ yǒu yī gè gēge hé yī gè mèimei.I have an older brother and a younger sister.
- 志强 Zhiqiang哇，你们家真热闹！Wa, nǐmen jiā zhēn rènao!Wow, your house must be very lively!
- 雨婷 Yuting是的，我们关系很好。Shì de, wǒmen guānxì hěn hǎo.Yes, we get along very well.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sibling” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
