Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
哥哥gēge(ge1ge5)
哥哥 (gēge) means 'older brother' in Mandarin. It is commonly used in family contexts to refer to one's elder brother, emphasizing respect and affection. The term can also be used in informal settings to refer to a male friend or peer who is older.
Frequency#846DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of elder siblings is significant, often reflecting Confucian values of respect for elders. The term 哥哥 can denote not only familial bonds but also social hierarchies in friendships and community.
Memory Tip
Think of 哥哥 (gēge) as a big 'geese' (sounds like 'ge') that guides its younger siblings. The character 哥 features the radical 可 (kě), which can remind you of something that is 'possible' or 'able,' symbolizing an older brother's role as a protector and guide.
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 哥哥
Quick Contrast
弟弟 (dìdi) - use 哥哥 for an older male sibling, while 弟弟 refers to a younger male sibling.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 哥哥 (gēge) as a big 'geese' (sounds like 'ge') that guides its younger siblings. The character 哥 features the radical 可 (kě), which can remind you of something that is 'possible' or 'able,' symbolizing an older brother's role as a protector and guide.
Usage Notes
Be careful with tone pronunciation; 哥 (gē) uses the first tone, while 哥哥 (gēge) should be pronounced with a neutral tone on the second 'ge.' Common collocations include '哥哥姐姐' (older brother and older sister) and '哥哥妹妹' (older brother and younger sister). In informal contexts, use the term affectionately among friends.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 哥哥 connects with other family-related vocabulary like 妹妹 (mèimei, younger sister) and 姐姐 (jiějie, older sister). Students should focus on mastering family terms to hold basic conversations about relatives.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of elder siblings is significant, often reflecting Confucian values of respect for elders. The term 哥哥 can denote not only familial bonds but also social hierarchies in friendships and community.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse the tones, pronouncing 哥哥 as *gégé instead of gēge. Another common mistake is using 哥哥 to refer to a younger brother, which should actually be 弟弟 (dìdi).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 哥哥
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 哥哥 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 哥哥 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 哥哥
哥哥 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.
tā huā1,700 1,700 wàn měi yuán mǎi xià le tā gē gē de quán bù gǔ。
He bought his brother out for $17 million.
7
他不象比他胖得多的哥哥.
tā bù xiàng bǐ tā pàng dé duō de gē gē.
He is unlike his brother who is much fatter.
8
阿门德和奥利维尔均未猜到这人正是奥利维尔的哥哥文森特.
ā mén dé hé ào lì wéi ěr jūn wèi cāi dào zhè rén zhèng shì ào lì wéi ěr de gē gē wén sēn tè.
Neither Armand nor Olivier guessed that the man was Olivier's Brother Vincent.
9
我母亲把我哥哥从家里赶了出去.
wǒ mǔ qīn bǎ wǒ gē gē cóng jiā lǐ gǎn le chū qù.
My mother booted my brother out of the house.
10
我哥哥很懒,他从不打扫他的卧室.
wǒ gē gē hěn lǎn, , tā cóng bù dǎ sǎo tā de wò.
My brother is very lazy . He just lets grass grow under his feet and never cleans his bedroom.
Cultural Notes for 哥哥
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of elder siblings is significant, often reflecting Confucian values of respect for elders. The term 哥哥 can denote not only familial bonds but also social hierarchies in friendships and community.
Frequently Asked Questions about 哥哥
Yes, you can use 哥哥 informally to refer to an older male friend, showing familiarity and respect.
哥 (gē) means 'brother' in a general sense, while 哥哥 (gēge) specifically means 'older brother'.
Make sure to pronounce 哥 (gē) with a high level tone and the second 'ge' in 哥哥 (gēge) with a neutral tone.
