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March 24, 2026
姐姐jiějie(jie3jie5)
姐姐 (jiějie) refers to an older sister in a familial context. It is commonly used in both formal and informal situations to denote respect and affection towards an older female sibling. This term can also be used more broadly to refer to older female friends or acquaintances.
Frequency#1112DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the role of an older sister (姐姐) is often seen as a caregiver and a role model for younger siblings, emphasizing the importance of family hierarchy and respect within familial relationships.
Memory Tip
Imagine a graceful older sister (姐姐) leading her younger sibling by the hand. The character 姐 combines the radical 女 (female) with the sound component 也 (yě), suggesting a nurturing and caring figure. Picture her wearing a beautiful dress, as the 女 radical hints at femininity.
Meanings of 姐姐
jiějie(jie3jie5)
1older sister
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About 姐姐
姐姐Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1112Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 姐姐
Podcast: 姐姐
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AI Study Notes for 姐姐
Quick Contrast
姐姐 (older sister) vs 妹妹 (younger sister) — use 姐姐 when referring to an older female sibling, not a younger one.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a graceful older sister (姐姐) leading her younger sibling by the hand. The character 姐 combines the radical 女 (female) with the sound component 也 (yě), suggesting a nurturing and caring figure. Picture her wearing a beautiful dress, as the 女 radical hints at femininity.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 姐姐 with 妹妹 (mèimei), which means younger sister. Remember that 姐姐 is used to refer to older sisters, while 妹妹 is for younger ones. In informal settings, you might hear it in phrases like '我姐姐' (wǒ jiějie) meaning 'my older sister.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 姐姐 is useful when discussing family and relationships. Students should focus on using it in sentences to describe family roles and practice with related vocabulary, such as 妹妹 (younger sister) and 哥哥 (older brother).
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the role of an older sister (姐姐) is often seen as a caregiver and a role model for younger siblings, emphasizing the importance of family hierarchy and respect within familial relationships.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse the tones and say 'jie1 jie' instead of 'jie3 jie', which alters the meaning. Additionally, using 姐姐 to refer to someone who is not a sister can lead to misunderstandings; ensure that it is appropriate to use in context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 姐姐
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Grammar Patterns of 姐姐
姐姐 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Lucilla often asks her sisters to retell the story.
7
我和姐姐的确在半夜大吃了一顿。
wǒ hé jiě jiě de què zài bàn yè dà chī le yī dùn。
Well we did have a midnight feast, me and my sister.
8
“你为什么不借用你姐姐的车呢？”卡桑德拉生硬地说道。
“ “ nǐ wéi shí mó bù jiè yòng nǐ jiě jiě de chē？” ne ？” kǎ sāng dé lā shēng yìng dì。
"Why don't you borrow your sister's car?" said Cassandra stiffly.
9
格雷戈尔爱他的姐姐，她的去世显然仍令他悲伤不已。
gé léi gē ěr ài tā de jiě jiě， ， tā de qù shì xiǎn rán réng líng tā bēi shāng bù。
Gregor loved his sister, and her loss clearly still affects him.
10
我姐姐老拧我，好痛喔。
wǒ jiě jiě lǎo níng wǒ， ， hǎo tòng。
My sister's always pinching me and it really hurts.
Cultural Notes for 姐姐
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, the role of an older sister (姐姐) is often seen as a caregiver and a role model for younger siblings, emphasizing the importance of family hierarchy and respect within familial relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions about 姐姐
You can say '我的姐姐很漂亮' (wǒ de jiějie hěn piàoliang), which means 'My older sister is very beautiful.'
Yes, it's common to refer to older female friends or acquaintances as 姐姐 to show respect.
姐姐 refers to an older sister, while 妹妹 means younger sister.
