哥哥
older brother
gēge
What does 哥哥 mean?
哥哥 (gēge) means 'older brother' — the standard, everyday word for a male sibling who is older than the speaker. Like all Chinese kinship terms, 哥哥 specifies both age and gender, so unlike English 'brother' it cannot be used for a younger brother (that's 弟弟, dìdi). The doubled form 哥哥 is the affectionate everyday version used by family and friends; the single 哥 (gē) appears in compounds (大哥 'oldest brother', 表哥 'older male cousin'), as a respectful address for slightly older men, or in modern slang where young women may flirtatiously call any older male 哥哥.
The second 哥 is toneless in normal speech, giving the same neutral-tone pattern as other family terms (爸爸, 妈妈, 弟弟, 姐姐). 哥哥 is also widely used as a term of endearment for older male friends in close circles, especially online.
Note: In casual urban speech, young women sometimes call any older male friend or even strangers 哥哥 affectionately or flirtatiously. Used between actual family members, it just means 'older brother.'
Character breakdown
older brother
older brother (reduplicated, neutral tone)
Measure word for 哥哥
Example sentences
我有一个哥哥。
Wǒ yǒu yí ge gēge.
I have an older brother.
neutral
我哥哥比我大三岁。
Wǒ gēge bǐ wǒ dà sān suì.
My older brother is three years older than me.
spoken
哥哥喜欢打篮球。
Gēge xǐhuan dǎ lánqiú.
My older brother likes playing basketball.
spoken
她的哥哥是医生。
Tā de gēge shì yīshēng.
Her older brother is a doctor.
neutral
哥哥，你能帮我吗？
Gēge, nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?
Big brother, can you help me?
spoken
Common phrases with 哥哥
Synonyms
大哥 specifically means 'eldest brother' or, used for non-relatives, a respectful 'big bro' to an older man you don't know. 哥哥 is YOUR older brother; 大哥 ranks him among siblings or addresses an outsider.
兄长 is literary/formal 'elder brother,' used in writing, speeches, or to express respect. Native speakers wouldn't say 兄长 in everyday talk — stick with 哥哥.
Don't confuse 哥哥 with
FAQ
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