Chinese character for sister: 姐妹 (jiěmèi)
The Chinese word for sister is 姐妹 (jiěmèi). It means sisters, older and younger, and also close female friends. In daily speech 姐姐 (jiějie) is older sister and 妹妹 (mèimei) is younger sister.
How 姐妹 is built
Both characters have 女 (nǚ, woman) on the left. 姐 (jiě) adds 且 (qiě) for the sound. 妹 (mèi) adds 未 (wèi), which gives the sound and means 'not yet'. As a memory aid, the younger sister is the woman who is 'not yet' grown. Together, 姐妹 is the elder and the younger sister. Both characters are identical in simplified and traditional Chinese.
姐 jiě · elder sister
- 女nǚ — woman
- 且qiě — moreover
- 月yuè — moon; month
- 冂 — frame
- 二 — two strokes
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 月yuè — moon; month
Origin hint: 女 gives the meaning, 且 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
妹 mèi · younger sister
- 女nǚ — woman
- 未wèi — not yet
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 木mù — tree
- 十 — ten
- 八bā — eight
Origin hint: 女 gives the meaning, 未 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
How 姐妹 is used
Other ways to say sister
- 姐姐 jiějie — older sister
- 妹妹 mèimei — younger sister
Before you use it as a tattoo or design: 姐妹 is identical in both scripts and works well for matching tattoos between sisters or close friends.
Questions
What is the Chinese character for sister?
姐妹 (jiěmèi) means “sisters”.
How do you pronounce 姐妹?
姐妹 is pronounced jiěmèi.