hing1兄
Jyutpinghing1
Yalehīng
Definition
Elder brother; also used as a respectful address for a male friend.
- elder brother
- a polite address for a male friend
neutralfamilypeople
How it's used
While 兄 is a standard term for elder brother, it is rarely used in isolation when referring to one's own family in daily speech. Most speakers prefer the more colloquial 阿哥 or 哥哥. Using 兄 often sounds slightly formal, literary, or restricted to specific compound words like 兄弟.
Examples
He is my biological elder brother, two years older than me.
When will you bring your elder brother out to have a meal?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse 兄 with 哥. While 哥 is the standard spoken term for elder brother, 兄 is primarily a morpheme used in formal titles or compounds. Calling your own brother 兄 in a casual conversation will sound unnatural or overly stiff.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
