Meaning of 哥哥
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- older brother
Measure word: 個|个,位
How to use 哥哥
哥哥 (gēge) is the everyday word for your own older brother, and kids also use it for older boys they know. Among friends, 哥 alone is often used as a casual title, as in 老哥 (lǎogē) or 帅哥 (shuàigē). Example: 我哥哥在北京工作。(Wǒ gēge zài Běijīng gōngzuò.) My older brother works in Beijing.
哥 (gē) is two 可 (kě) stacked on top of each other. Picture one 可 standing on the shoulders of another, like a taller older brother looking down at you.
Common mistake: Learners often say the second syllable with a full first tone, gēgē. In natural speech it is neutral, gēge, light and short. Also do not use 哥哥 for a younger brother. That is 弟弟 (dìdi).
哥哥 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
哥 gē · elder brother · 10 strokes
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哥 gē · elder brother · 10 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 哥哥.
| 大哥 | dàgē | eldest brother; big brother (polite address for a man of about the same age as oneself) |
| 帅哥 | shuàigē | handsome guy; lady-killer |
| 哥们 | gēmen | (coll.) dude; buddy; bro |
| 表哥 | biǎogē | older male cousin through a female relative |
| 哥们儿 | gēmenr | erhua form of 哥們|哥们[ge1 men5] |
| 老哥 | lǎogē | form of address for a (slightly) older man (esp. among males) |
| 哥特 | gētè | (loanword) Gothic subculture or aesthetic |
| 二哥 | èrgē | second brother |
| 小哥 | xiǎogē | (coll.) young man; polite or friendly form of address or reference for a young male |
| 老大哥 | lǎodàgē | big brother |
| 阿哥 | āgē | (familiar) elder brother |
| 的哥 | dīgē | male taxi driver; cabbie (slang) |
Questions about 哥哥
What does 哥哥 mean?
哥哥 (gēge) means "older brother" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 哥哥?
哥哥 is made of 2 characters: 哥 (10 strokes), 哥 (10 strokes). That is 20 strokes in total.
Is 哥哥 an HSK word?
Yes. 哥哥 is on the HSK 1 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How do I say I have two older brothers in Chinese?
Say 我有两个哥哥 (wǒ yǒu liǎng gè gēge). Use 两 (liǎng), not 二 (èr), before the measure word 个.
Can I call a stranger 哥 or 大哥?
Yes. 大哥 (dàgē) is a polite, friendly way to address a man around your age or a bit older, for example a driver or shop worker. 帅哥 (shuàigē) is also common for young men in casual settings.