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March 24, 2026
妹mèi(mei4)
The character 妹 (mèi) means 'younger sister' in Mandarin. It is commonly used to refer to a female sibling who is younger than the speaker or another referenced sibling. This term is often used in familial contexts and can also imply affection or care.
Strokes8Radical女Frequency#3266DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of family hierarchy is significant, and the terms for siblings reflect respect and care within the family structure. The use of 妹 can also indicate the familial duty of older siblings to care for their younger ones.
Memory Tip
Imagine a cute little girl (妹) holding a doll, representing a younger sister. The component 女 (nǚ) signifies 'female,' while the other part suggests youthfulness, helping you remember that 妹 refers specifically to a younger sister.
Meanings of 妹
mèi(mei4)
1younger sister
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 妹
妹Simplified
8Strokes
女Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3266Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1TOCFLL1
Podcast: 妹
Podcast: 妹
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AI Study Notes for 妹
Quick Contrast
姐 (jiě) vs 妹 (mèi): use 妹 for 'younger sister' and 姐 for 'older sister'.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a cute little girl (妹) holding a doll, representing a younger sister. The component 女 (nǚ) signifies 'female,' while the other part suggests youthfulness, helping you remember that 妹 refers specifically to a younger sister.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 妹 with 姐 (jiě), which means 'older sister.' Remember to use 妹 when referring to younger sisters only. In informal settings, it can also be used endearingly among friends to denote closeness.
HSK Study Tips
While 妹 is not an HSK vocabulary word, understanding it is beneficial for discussing family relationships, which is common in beginner conversations. Focus on how it relates to other family terms like 姐 (older sister) and 哥 (older brother) to build a solid vocabulary base.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of family hierarchy is significant, and the terms for siblings reflect respect and care within the family structure. The use of 妹 can also indicate the familial duty of older siblings to care for their younger ones.
Common Mistakes
Learners might mistakenly use 妹 to refer to older sisters, confusing it with 姐. Ensure you use 妹 only for younger sisters, for example, saying 妹 is incorrect when referring to an older sister.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 妹
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Grammar Patterns of 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
You write very movingly of your sister Amy's suicide.
7
我妹妹把车停在马路那头。
wǒ mèi mèi bǎ chē tíng zài mǎ lù nà tóu。
My sister was parked down the road.
8
她小时候会和妹妹打架。
tā xiǎo shí hòu huì hé mèi mèi dǎ jià。
As a child she fought with her younger sister.
9
和父母及两个姐妹生活在一起让她感到很压抑。
hé fù mǔ jí liǎng gè jiě mèi shēng huó zài yī qǐ ràng tā gǎn dào hěn yā yì。
Life at home with her parents and two sisters was stifling.
10
这顿美餐是他母亲和他的姐妹们准备的。
zhè dùn měi cān shì tā mǔ qīn hé tā de jiě mèi mén zhǔn bèi de。
The feast was served by his mother and sisters.
Cultural Notes for 妹
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of family hierarchy is significant, and the terms for siblings reflect respect and care within the family structure. The use of 妹 can also indicate the familial duty of older siblings to care for their younger ones.
Word Family of 妹
Words Containing This Character20
妹妹mèimeiyounger sister
妹mèiyounger sister
姐妹jiěmèisisters
妹子girl
兄妹brother(s) and sister(s)
表妹younger female cousin via female line
姊妹(older and younger) sisters
小妹girl
师妹junior female student or apprentice師妹
妹夫younger sister's husband
弟妹younger sibling
阿妹younger sister
张惠妹A-Mei, aka Gulilai Amit (1972-), aboriginal Taiwanese pop singer張惠妹
堂妹younger female patrilineal cousin
打工妹young female worker
表姐妹female cousins via female line
伊妹儿email (loanword)伊妹兒
姨妹sister-in-law
表妹夫husband of younger female cousin via female line
表姊妹father's sister's daughters
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 妹妹 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 妹
The correct pronunciation is mèi, with a falling tone, similar to saying 'may' but ending sharply.
Yes, in informal contexts, you can use 妹 to affectionately refer to a younger female friend, but be cautious about the relationship dynamics.
The opposite is 姐 (jiě), which means 'older sister.'
