嫂子
saozi
The Chinese term for sister-in-law (specifically the wife of one's older brother) is 嫂子 (saozi).
嫂子 is used to refer to the wife of one's older brother. In Chinese culture, 嫂子 is often used as a direct form of address when speaking to the wife of one's older brother, rather than just a way to refer to her in the third person.
Which one should you use?
While 嫂子 refers specifically to an older brother's wife, 弟妹 is used for a younger brother's wife.
How does it change in a sentence?
嫂子 is a noun that can function as a title or a direct address.
How do you pronounce it?
saozi
Did you know?
- In some Northern Chinese dialects, calling someone 嫂子 can be a way to establish an immediate, faux-familial bond of trust with a woman in a marketplace or street setting.
- The character 嫂 contains the 'woman' radical on the left, which is a common pattern for many Chinese kinship terms specifically denoting female relatives.
- Because Chinese culture emphasizes seniority, calling a woman 嫂子 instead of her name is a way to show respect for her husband's higher rank in the family hierarchy.
Examples in context
- Peter is my 姐夫 (jiě fū).Peter is my husband of my older sister.
- 我嫂子人很好。Wǒ sǎozi rén hěn hǎo.My sister-in-law is a very kind person.
- 你嫂子在做什么？Nǐ sǎozi zài zuò shénme?What is your sister-in-law doing?
- 我以后会去找我嫂子。Wǒ yǐhòu huì qù zhǎo wǒ sǎozi.I will go to visit my sister-in-law later.
Example conversation
Zihan and Zhiqiang are discussing Zhiqiang's family during a phone call.
- 梓涵 Zihan志强，你嫂子最近身体好吗？Zhìqiáng, nǐ sǎozi zuìjìn shēntǐ hǎo ma?Zhiqiang, has your sister-in-law been healthy lately?
- 志强 Zhiqiang她身体很好，谢谢你的关心。Tā shēntǐ hěn hǎo, xièxiè nǐ de guānxīn.She is doing well, thank you for asking.
- 梓涵 Zihan那就好，替我向她问好。Nà jiù hǎo, tì wǒ xiàng tā wènhǎo.That's good, please give her my best.
- 志强 Zhiqiang没问题，我会转达的。Méi wèntí, wǒ huì zhuǎndá de.No problem, I will tell her.
