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March 24, 2026
兄弟xiōngdì(xiong1di4)
兄弟 (xiōngdì) means 'brothers' in a general sense, referring to male siblings. It can also denote a close, brotherly relationship among friends or peers, emphasizing camaraderie and loyalty. This term is often used in both familial and social contexts.
Frequency#400DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of brotherhood (兄弟) extends beyond blood relations and often encompasses close friends who treat each other like family, reflecting the importance of loyalty and mutual support in social relationships.
Memory Tip
Imagine a pair of brothers (兄) standing side by side, their bond so strong that they could be mistaken for twins. The character 兄 looks like two men standing together, and the sound 'xiong' rhymes with 'strong,' emphasizing their strong connection.
Meanings of 兄弟
xiōngdì(xiong1di4)
1brothers
2younger brother
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 兄弟
兄弟Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#400Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 兄弟
Podcast: 兄弟
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AI Study Notes for 兄弟
Quick Contrast
弟弟 (dìdì) refers specifically to a younger brother, while 兄弟 (xiōngdì) can refer to brothers in general, regardless of age.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a pair of brothers (兄) standing side by side, their bond so strong that they could be mistaken for twins. The character 兄 looks like two men standing together, and the sound 'xiong' rhymes with 'strong,' emphasizing their strong connection.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with tone; 兄 is pronounced with a high level tone (xiong1) and 弟 with a falling tone (di4). A common mistake is to confuse 兄弟 with 朋友 (péngyǒu), which means 'friends'; remember that 兄弟 implies a deeper, familial bond. Use this term in both informal and formal situations, but be mindful of your audience when referring to oneself as '我' (wǒ) in a humble manner.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 兄弟 connects with other family-related vocabulary such as 姐姐 (jiějie, older sister) and 妹妹 (mèimei, younger sister). Students should focus on using it within contexts of family and friendship to solidify its meaning and application.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of brotherhood (兄弟) extends beyond blood relations and often encompasses close friends who treat each other like family, reflecting the importance of loyalty and mutual support in social relationships.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 兄弟 with the term 同胞 (tóngbāo), which means 'siblings' in a broader sense. Remember that 兄弟 is specifically for male siblings or close male relationships.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 兄弟
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Grammar Patterns of 兄弟
兄弟 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 6 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我去布鲁克斯____专卖店给自己买了一件体面的衬衫。
I went to Brooks Brothers and bought myself a decent shirt.
Example Sentences for 兄弟 (10)
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1
我去布鲁克斯兄弟专卖店给自己买了一件体面的衬衫。
wǒ qù bù lǔ kè sī xiōng dì zhuān mài diàn gěi zì jǐ mǎi le yī jiàn tǐ miàn de chèn shān。
I went to Brooks Brothers and bought myself a decent shirt.
2
他朝他的兄弟吼叫，脖子上青筋暴突。
tā zhāo tā de xiōng dì hǒu jiào， ， bó zǐ shàng qīng jīn bào。
He shouted at his brother, his neck veins bulging.
3
雪利的兄弟现在在瑞典做心脏外科高级顾问医师。
xuě lì de xiōng dì xiàn zài zài ruì diǎn zuò xīn zāng wài kē gāo jí gù wèn yī shī。
Shirley's brother is now a consultant heart surgeon in Sweden.
4
西德人喝葡萄酒，而他们东德的兄弟姐妹则喜欢喝杜松子酒。
xī dé rén hē pú táo jiǔ， ， ér tā mén dōng dé de xiōng dì jiě mèi zé xǐ huān hē dù sōng zǐ。
Whereas West Germans drink wine, their Eastern cousins prefer Schnapps.
5
她打算干什么？她跟她那兄弟一样神经！
tā dǎ suàn gān shí mó？ ？ tā gēn tā nà xiōng dì yī yàng shén！
What's she up to? She's as loony as her brother!
6
门罗正在打电话，怒不可遏地说着她被这几个兄弟虐待的事。
mén luó zhèng zài dǎ diàn huà， ， nù bù kě è dì shuō zháo tā bèi zhè jī gè xiōng dì nüè dài de。
Monroe was on the phone, raging about her mistreatment by the brothers.
7
他花钱雇我兄弟去杀了诺顿并给了他封口费。
tā huā qián gù wǒ xiōng dì qù shā le nuò dùn bìng gěi le tā fēng kǒu fèi。
He paid my brother to kill Norton and keep his mouth shut.
8
导演想要当时签约于华纳兄弟娱乐公司旗下的奥利维娅·德哈维兰出演。
dǎo yǎn xiǎng yào dāng shí qiān yuē yú huá nà xiōng dì yú lè gōng sī qí xià de ào lì wéi yà· · dé hā wéi lán chū。
The director wanted Olivia de Havilland, then under contract to Warner Brothers.
9
目前看来，华纳兄弟公司这一赌注下对了。
mù qián kàn lái， ， huá nà xiōng dì gōng sī zhè yī dǔ zhù xià duì。
So far it looks like Warner Brothers' gamble is paying off.
10
爱德华的两个兄弟分别是米尔顿和迈克尔.
ài dé huá de liǎng gè xiōng dì fēn bié shì mǐ ěr dùn hé mài kè ěr.
Edward's two brothers are Milton and Michael.
Cultural Notes for 兄弟
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of brotherhood (兄弟) extends beyond blood relations and often encompasses close friends who treat each other like family, reflecting the importance of loyalty and mutual support in social relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions about 兄弟
No, 兄弟 specifically refers to male siblings or a brotherly relationship. For female siblings, use 姐妹 (jiěmèi).
Yes, it's common to refer to close male friends as 兄弟, highlighting a strong bond.
The term '我' (wǒ) is typically used, but in formal situations, men may use 兄弟 to refer to themselves humbly.
