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March 24, 2026
妹妹mèimei(mei4mei5)
妹妹 (mèi mei) refers to a younger sister or a young woman. It is commonly used in familial contexts to denote a sibling relationship, but can also be a term of endearment for younger females in informal settings. The word embodies a sense of warmth and care often associated with younger siblings.
Frequency#950DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the relationship between siblings, especially between brothers and sisters, is often emphasized, with 妹妹 representing not just family ties but also the social expectations of caring for younger relatives.
Memory Tip
Imagine a younger sister (妹妹) who loves to play and is always by your side. The characters 妹 (younger sister) and 妹 (younger sister) both emphasize her youthfulness and closeness, while the pronunciation 'mèi mei' sounds like 'may may,' reminding you of the joy of having a sister who brings you happiness.
Meanings of 妹妹
mèimei(mei4mei5)
1younger sister
2young woman
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About 妹妹
妹妹Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#950Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 妹妹
Podcast: 妹妹
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AI Study Notes for 妹妹
Quick Contrast
姐姐 (jiějie) refers to an older sister, while 妹妹 (mèimei) specifically denotes a younger sister.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a younger sister (妹妹) who loves to play and is always by your side. The characters 妹 (younger sister) and 妹 (younger sister) both emphasize her youthfulness and closeness, while the pronunciation 'mèi mei' sounds like 'may may,' reminding you of the joy of having a sister who brings you happiness.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 妹妹; the first 'mei' is pronounced with a falling tone (4th tone), while the second 'mei' has a rising tone (5th tone). Common mistakes include using 妹 (mèi) alone to refer to a younger sister, as it typically requires repetition to indicate the familial relationship.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 妹妹 is a foundational term for family relationships. Students should focus on practicing its pronunciation and using it in sentences with other family-related vocabulary, such as 哥哥 (older brother) or 姐姐 (older sister).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the relationship between siblings, especially between brothers and sisters, is often emphasized, with 妹妹 representing not just family ties but also the social expectations of caring for younger relatives.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 妹妹 (younger sister) with 姐姐 (older sister), using the wrong term in conversations about siblings. For example, saying '我有一个姐姐' (Wǒ yǒu yī gè jiě jie) instead of '我有一个妹妹' (Wǒ yǒu yī gè mèi mei) if they actually mean to refer to a younger sister.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 妹妹
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Grammar Patterns of 妹妹
妹妹 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 3 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.
Alatook's sister was playing with her friends near the house.
10
不要总是把你的不良行为怪在你的小妹妹身上.
bù yào zǒng shì bǎ nǐ de bù liáng háng wéi guài zài nǐ de xiǎo mèi mèi shēn shàng.
Don't keep blaming your little sister for your bad behavior.
Cultural Notes for 妹妹
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the relationship between siblings, especially between brothers and sisters, is often emphasized, with 妹妹 representing not just family ties but also the social expectations of caring for younger relatives.
Frequently Asked Questions about 妹妹
You can say '我有一个妹妹' (Wǒ yǒu yī gè mèi mei), which means 'I have a younger sister.'
Yes, you can use 妹妹 affectionately to refer to younger female friends, but ensure it's in an informal context.
妹妹 directly means 'younger sister,' while 小妹 (xiǎo mèi) can also imply a younger girl or young woman, sometimes used more casually.
