弟弟
dìdi
The English phrase "younger brother" is translated into Chinese as 弟弟 (dìdi).
弟弟 is used both for one's biological younger brother and as a friendly term for a boy or man significantly younger than oneself. This contrasts with 哥哥, which refers to an older brother.
Meaning: single-word translations (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 弟弟 is a reduplicated form of 弟, which means younger brother.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, you can address your younger brother informally as 細佬.
How does it change in a sentence?
弟弟 is a noun and does not change its form based on whether there is one brother or multiple brothers.
How do you pronounce it?
dìdi
Did you know?
- The character 弟 originally depicted two leather straps hanging from a wooden rod, symbolizing the lowest or youngest member of a sequence.
- While it typically refers to a sibling, 弟弟 can sometimes be used as a flirtatious or affectionate way to address a younger male partner.
- If you are using the Cantonese term 細佬, be careful with your tone and context. While it means 'younger brother', it can also be used as a slang term for a 'small guy' or even a 'lackey' in certain street contexts.
Examples in context
- 湯姆是你的弟弟。Tom is your younger brother.This sentence is useful for identifying a person as a younger brother using 弟弟.Tatoeba #5651319 by xjjAstrus, translation #7211481 by LimeGreenTeknii
- 他是 Taro 的弟弟。He's Taro's younger brother.This sentence is useful for showing possession of a younger brother using 弟弟.Tatoeba #2007033 by sadhen, translation #460850 by FeuDRenais
- 我每次看到你，都會想起我的弟弟。Whenever I look at you, I am reminded of my younger brother.This sentence is useful for expressing a memory of a younger brother using 弟弟.Tatoeba #6316690 by xjjAstrus, translation #9409590 by BobbyLee
- 我弟弟的名字是亮。My younger brother's name is Liang.
- 嘿，小弟弟！你最棒了！Hey, little bro! You're the best!
- 嗨，小弟！我们一起吃点东西吧。What's up, little bro? Let's grab a bite to eat.
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their family at a cafe.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你有弟弟嗎？Nǐ yǒu dìdi ma?Do you have a younger brother?
- 浩然 Haoran我有，他比我小兩歲。Wǒ yǒu, tā bǐ wǒ xiǎo liǎng suì.I do, he is two years younger than me.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你的弟弟在哪裡工作？Nǐ de dìdi zài nǎlǐ gōngzuò?Where does your younger brother work?
- 浩然 Haoran他在一家銀行工作。Tā zài yì jiā yínháng gōngzuò.He works at a bank.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “younger brother” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
