姊妹
chí-mōe
The Hokkien word for sister is 姊妹 (chí-mōe).
姊妹 is the general term used to refer to sisters, meaning a woman or girl who shares the same parents.
Meaning: woman or girl having the same parents (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 姊妹 is the general term for sisters, the term 妹 (muê) is used specifically when referring to a younger sister.
How do you pronounce it?
chí-mōe
Did you know?
- In many Hokkien-speaking communities, calling a stranger 姊 (chí) is not just a way to say 'older sister', but a polite way to address any woman slightly older than you, similar to 'miss'.
- In many Hokkien households, you would rarely call your sister by her name, instead using her specific position in the birth order, such as 大姊 (tāi-chí) for 'eldest sister'.
- The term 妹 (muê) is often used as a suffix in names or nicknames to denote a sense of endearment or to indicate that a female character in a story is younger and perhaps more vulnerable.
Example conversation
Jia-yi is showing a family photo to Jia-hao.
- 佳怡 Chia-yi這是我跟我的姊妹。Che sī góa kap góa ê chī-mūi.This is me and my sisters.
- 家豪 Ka-hao你們長得很像。Lín tiáng-tit chin sòng.You all look very similar.
- 佳怡 Chia-yi大家都這麼說。Tā-ke tó-si án-ne kóng.Everyone says so.
- 家豪 Ka-hao你們感情很好吧？Lín kám-chéng chin hó-pà?You have a good relationship, right?
