兄

See also: 只

兄 U+5144, 兄 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5144 ← 元 [U+5143] CJK Unified Ideographs 充 → [U+5145]

Translingual

Stroke order

Han character

兄 (Kangxi radical 10, 儿+3, 5 strokes, cangjie input 口竹山 (RHU), four-corner 6021₀, composition ⿱口儿)

Derived characters

• 兌, 兑, 況(况), 祝, 呪, 柷, 貺(贶), 㚾, 眖, 𤔓, 𪺎, 怳, 㫛, 𰃋, 𣅷, 𣍦, 炾, 𦬺, 岲, 𡶢, 𠩣, 𪾍, 軦, 𭀢, 𬞁, 𮞈

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 123, character 9
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 1343
• Dae Jaweon: page 259, character 3
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 266, character 4
• Unihan data for U+5144

Chinese

simp. and trad.		兄
alternative forms		㑆 𬆁

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 兄
Shang	Western Zhou	Warring States	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts
Oracle bone script j20630 j20631 j20632 j20633 j20634 j20635 j20636 j20637 j20638 j20639 j20640 j20641 j20642 j20643 j20644 j20645 j20646 j20647 j20648 j20649 j20650 j20651 j20652 j20653 j20654 j20655 j20656 j20657 j20658 j20659 j20660 j20661 j20662 j20663 j20664 j20665 j20666 j20667 j20668 j20669 j20670 j20671 j20672 j20673 j20674 j20675 j20676 j20677 j20678 j20679 j20680 j20681 j20682 j20683 j20684 j20685 j20686 j20687 j20688 j20689 j20690 j20691 j20692 j20693 j20694 j20695 j20696 j20697 j20698 j20699 j20700 j20701 j20702 j20703 j20704 j20705 j20706 j20707 j20708 j20709 j20710 j20711 j20712 j20713 j20714 j20715 j20716 j20717 j20718 j20719 j20720 j20721 j20722 j20723 j20724 j20725 j20726 j20727 j20728 j20729 j20730 j20731 j20732 j20733 j20734 j20735 j20736 j20737 j20738 j20739 j20740 j20741 j20742 j20743 j20744 Bronze inscriptions b13475 b13476 b13477 b13478 b13479 b13480 b13481 b13482 b13483 b13484 b13485 b13486 b13487 b13488 b13489 b13490 b13491 b13492 b13493 b13494 b13495 b13496 b13497 b13498 b13499 b13500 b13501 b13502 b13504 Small seal script s06205 Transcribed ancient scripts L33193 L33194 L10751 L10752 L10753 L10754 L10755 L10756 L10757 L10758 L10759
References: Mostly from Richard Sears' Chinese Etymology site (authorisation), which in turn draws data from various collections of ancient forms of Chinese characters, including: Shuowen Jiezi (small seal), Jinwen Bian (bronze inscriptions), Liushutong (Liushutong characters) and Yinxu Jiaguwen Bian (oracle bone script).

Characters in the same phonetic series (兄) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
怳	*hmaŋʔ
況	*hmaŋs
貺	*hmaŋs
况	*hmaŋs
兄	*hmraŋ

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意) : 口 + 儿 to convey the idea of giving orders. The original meaning of "elder brother" refers to the fact that the elder brother gives order to the younger brothers and his sisters. Compare 令, in which an open mouth on top of the character conveys the same idea of giving orders. Similar to 欠, in which there is a kneeling man with an open mouth.

Etymology

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *maŋ (“big; old; elder (brother, uncle)”) (Sagart, 1999; STEDT). Related to 孟 (OC *mraːŋs, “great; eldest brother; first”); see there for more.

Schuessler (2007), instead, connects it to Proto-Lolo-Burmese *ʔwyik (“elder sibling”), which is from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ʔik (“elder brother”).

Alternatively, Benedict (1972) relates it to Proto-Sino-Tibetan *bʷaŋ ~ *pʷaŋ (“(paternal) uncle; elder brother”), which is possibly also related to 伯 (OC *praːɡ, “paternal uncle; eldest brother”).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): xiōng (xiong¹)

  (Zhuyin): ㄒㄩㄥ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): xiong¹

• Cantonese (Jyutping): hing¹
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): hiûng

  (Meixian, Guangdong): hiung¹

• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): hiaⁿ / heng

  (Teochew, Peng'im): hian¹

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: xiōng
    • Zhuyin: ㄒㄩㄥ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: syong
    • Wade–Giles: hsiung¹
    • Yale: syūng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shiong
    • Palladius: сюн (sjun)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: xiong¹
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: xyng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɕyoŋ⁵⁵/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: hing¹
    • Yale: hīng
    • Cantonese Pinyin: hing¹
    • Guangdong Romanization: hing¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /hɪŋ⁵⁵/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: hiûng
    • Hakka Romanization System: hiung^ˊ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: hiung¹
    • Sinological IPA: /hi̯uŋ²⁴/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: hiung¹
    • Sinological IPA: /hiʊŋ⁴⁴/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hiaⁿ / heng
    • Tâi-lô: hiann / hing
    • Phofsit Daibuun: hviaf, hefng
    • IPA (Xiamen): /hiã⁴⁴/, /hiɪŋ⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /hiã³³/, /hiɪŋ³³/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /hiã⁴⁴/, /hiɪŋ⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Taipei): /hiã⁴⁴/, /hiɪŋ⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /hiã⁴⁴/, /hiɪŋ⁴⁴/

Note:

• hiaⁿ - vernacular;
• heng - literary.

• (Teochew)
  • Peng'im: hian¹
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: hiaⁿ
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /hĩã³³/

---

• Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 兄
Mandarin	Beijing	/ɕioŋ⁵⁵/
	Harbin	/ɕioŋ⁴⁴/
	Tianjin	/ɕioŋ²¹/
	Jinan	/ɕioŋ²¹³/
	Qingdao	/ɕiŋ²¹³/
	Zhengzhou	/ɕyoŋ²⁴/
	Xi'an	/ɕioŋ²¹/
	Xining	/ɕyə̃⁴⁴/
	Yinchuan	/ɕyoŋ⁴⁴/
	Lanzhou	/xỹn³¹/
	Ürümqi	/ɕioŋ⁴⁴/
	Wuhan	/ɕioŋ⁵⁵/
	Chengdu	/ɕyoŋ⁵⁵/
	Guiyang	/ɕioŋ⁵⁵/
	Kunming	/ɕioŋ⁴⁴/
	Nanjing	/ɕioŋ³¹/
	Hefei	/xiŋ²¹/
Jin	Taiyuan	/ɕyəŋ¹¹/
	Pingyao	/ɕioŋ¹³/ /ɕy¹³/ ～弟
	Hohhot	/ɕỹŋ³¹/
Wu	Shanghai	/ɕioŋ⁵³/
	Suzhou	/ɕioŋ⁵⁵/
	Hangzhou	/ɕioŋ³³/
	Wenzhou	/ɕoŋ³³/
Hui	Shexian	/ɕyʌ̃³¹/
	Tunxi	/ɕyɛ¹¹/
Xiang	Changsha	/ɕioŋ³³/
	Xiangtan	/ɕin³³/
Gan	Nanchang	/ɕiɑŋ⁴²/ /ɕiuŋ⁴²/ 弟～
Hakka	Meixian	/hiuŋ⁴⁴/
	Taoyuan	/hioŋ²⁴/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/heŋ⁵³/
	Nanning	/heŋ⁵⁵/
	Hong Kong	/hiŋ⁵⁵/
Min	Xiamen (Hokkien)	/hiŋ⁵/ /hia⁵⁵/
	Fuzhou (Eastern Min)	/hiŋ⁴⁴/
	Jian'ou (Northern Min)	/xœyŋ⁵⁴/ /xiaŋ⁵⁴/
	Shantou (Teochew)	/hiã³³/
	Haikou (Hainanese)	/hia²³/ /hia⁵⁵/ ～兄

---

• Middle Chinese: xjwaeng

Rime
Character	兄
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	曉 (32)
Final (韻)	庚 (112)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Closed
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	許榮切
Baxter	xjwaeng
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/hˠwiæŋ/
Pan Wuyun	/hʷᵚiaŋ/
Shao Rongfen	/xiuaŋ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/hwiajŋ/
Li Rong	/xiuɐŋ/
Wang Li	/xĭwɐŋ/
Bernhard Karlgren	/xi̯wɐŋ/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	xiōng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	hing1

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*m̥raŋ/

  (Zhengzhang): /*hmraŋ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	兄
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	xiōng
Middle Chinese	‹ xjwæng ›
Old Chinese	/*m̥raŋ/
English	elder brother
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	兄
Reading #	1/1
No.	13905
Phonetic component	兄
Rime group	陽
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	兄
Old Chinese	/*hmraŋ/
Notes	甲金文象張口呵喝之人， 金文有往聲者。疑初與孟同源

Definitions

兄

1. elder brother
2. elder male cousin

   堂兄  ―  tángxiōng  ―  father’s brother’s son older than oneself

3. brother (male friend of the same generation)
4. (Hokkien, familiar) respectful honorific used after a name for an elder brother or any male senior: Mister; Brother

Synonyms

• (elder brother):

Dialectal synonyms of 哥哥 (“elder brother”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		兄
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		哥哥, 兄長
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	哥哥, 哥
	Taiwan	哥哥, 哥
	Harbin	哥哥
	Shenyang	哥哥
	Malaysia	哥哥
	Singapore	哥哥
Jilu Mandarin	Jinan	哥哥
Jiaoliao Mandarin	Yantai (Muping)	哥
Central Plains Mandarin	Luoyang	哥
	Wanrong	哥
	Xi'an	哥
	Xining	阿哥
	Xuzhou	哥哥
Lanyin Mandarin	Yinchuan	哥哥
	Ürümqi	哥哥, 哥, 阿哥 Hui, ><
Southwestern Mandarin	Chengdu	哥哥, 哥, 哥老倌兒, 哥老倌
	Wuhan	哥哥
	Guiyang	哥哥, 哥
	Kunming	哥哥
	Liuzhou	哥
Jianghuai Mandarin	Nanjing	哥哥
	Yangzhou	哥哥, 哥
	Hefei	哥哥
Cantonese	Guangzhou	大佬, 阿哥, 哥哥 ><
	Hong Kong	大佬, 阿哥, 哥哥
	Hong Kong (San Tin Weitou)	哥哥 ><, 大佬 <>, 阿哥 <>
	Hong Kong (Kam Tin Weitou)	哥哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Hong Kong (Ting Kok)	阿哥
	Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau)	哥哥 ><, 阿哥 <>
	Macau	阿哥 ><, 大佬
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	阿哥 ><, 大哥, 大佬 <>
	Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Foshan	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	阿哥
	Foshan (Shunde)	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Foshan (Sanshui)	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou)	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka)	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Taishan	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>, 哥
	Kaiping (Chikan)	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Enping (Niujiang)	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Heshan (Yayao)	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Dongguan	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Yangjiang	大佬, 阿哥
	Nanning	阿哥, 哥哥, 大佬
	Wuzhou	阿哥, 哥哥, 大佬
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	阿哥 ><, 大佬 <>
	Singapore (Guangfu)	大佬, 哥哥
Gan	Nanchang	哥哥 ><, 兄 <>
	Lichuan	哥 ><, 兄 <>
Hakka	Meixian	阿哥
	Xingning	阿哥
	Huizhou (Huicheng Bendihua)	阿哥
	Huiyang	阿哥
	Huidong (Daling)	阿哥
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	阿哥
	Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)	阿哥
	Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)	阿哥
	Wuhua (Shuizhai)	阿哥
	Wuhua (Huacheng)	阿哥
	Wuhua (Changbu)	阿哥
	Wuhua (Mianyang)	阿哥
	Wuhua (Meilin)	阿哥
	Heyuan (Bendihua)	阿哥
	Wengyuan	阿哥
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	哥哥
	Lianshan (Xiaosanjiang)	阿哥
	Liannan	阿哥
	Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua)	阿哥
	Jiexi	阿哥, 哥
	Luhe	阿哥
	Zhao'an (Xiuzhuan)	阿哥
	Changting	老伯
	Wuping	老伯
	Wuping (Yanqian)	老伯哩
	Wuping (Pingyu)	哥
	Liancheng	老伯
	Ninghua	老伯
	Yudu	哥哥, 老伯
	Ningdu	哥哥
	Ruijin	哥哥, 老兄
	Shicheng	老伯
	Shangyou (Shexi)	老伯
	Tonggu (Sandu)	哥哥
	Ganzhou (Panlong)	老伯
	Dayu	哥哥
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	阿哥
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	阿哥
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	阿哥
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	阿哥
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	阿哥
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	阿哥
	Hong Kong	阿哥
	Yangxi (Tangkou)	阿哥
	Yangchun (Sanjia)	阿哥
	Xinyi (Sihe)	大佬
	Xinyi (Qianpai)	阿哥, 大佬
	Gaozhou (Xindong)	阿哥
	Maoming (Shalang, Dianbai)	阿哥
	Huazhou (Xin'an)	阿哥
	Lianjiang (Shijiao)	阿哥
	Lianjiang (Qingping)	阿哥, 大哥
	Mengshan (Xihe)	哥
	Luchuan	哥
	Sabah (Bao'an)	阿哥
	Sabah (Longchuan)	阿哥
	Senai (Huiyang)	阿哥
	Sungai Tapang, Batu Kawa (Hepo)	阿哥
	Singkawang	阿哥
Huizhou	Jixi	哥哥
Jin	Taiyuan	哥哥, 哥
Northern Min	Jian'ou	哥仔, 哥哥
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	依哥
	Fuqing	哥, 阿哥
	Matsu	依哥
	Singapore (Fuqing)	阿哥
Southern Min	Xiamen	阿兄, 阿哥, 兄哥, 俺兄
	Quanzhou	阿兄
	Jinjiang	大兄
	Yongchun	阿哥, 哥, 阿兄, 兄
	Dehua	阿兄
	Zhangzhou	阿兄, 咉兄 <>
	Zhao'an	兄, 阿兄
	Taipei	阿兄
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	阿兄
	Kaohsiung	兄哥
	Yilan	阿兄
	Changhua (Lukang)	阿兄
	Taichung	大兄
	Taichung (Wuqi)	阿兄
	Tainan	阿哥, 兄哥, 兄哥仔
	Taitung	大兄
	Hsinchu	阿兄
	Kinmen	阿兄
	Penghu (Magong)	阿兄
	Penang (Hokkien)	阿哥, 哥, 哥哥
	Singapore (Hokkien)	阿兄, 大兄
	Manila (Hokkien)	阿兄, 哥仔 archaic
	Chaozhou	阿兄
	Shantou	阿兄
	Jieyang	阿兄
	Bangkok (Teochew)	阿兄
	Johor Bahru (Teochew)	阿兄
	Singapore (Teochew)	阿兄
	Leizhou	兄 ><, 尼兄 <>
	Wenchang	阿哥
	Haikou	阿兄 ><, 阿哥 ><, 兄 <>
	Singapore (Hainanese)	阿哥
Puxian Min	Putian	阿兄
	Xianyou	阿兄
Zhongshan Min	Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi)	哥 ><, 大佬 <>
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	阿哥
Wu	Shanghai	阿哥, 哥哥
	Shanghai (Chongming)	阿哥
	Suzhou	阿哥
	Danyang	哥哥
	Hangzhou	阿哥, 哥哥
	Ningbo	哥哥, 阿哥
	Wenzhou	阿大, 哥哥
	Jinhua	哥哥 ><, 哥 <>
Xiang	Changsha	老兄, 哥哥
	Shuangfeng	老兄, 哥哥
	Hengyang	老兄 <>, 哥哥 ><
Note	>< - face-to-face; <> - non-face-to-face

Compounds

• 世兄 (shìxiōng)
• 仁兄 (rénxiōng)
• 令兄 (lìngxiōng)
• 伯兄
• 兄友弟恭 (xiōngyǒudìgōng)
• 兄妹 (xiōngmèi)
• 兄嫂 (xiōngsǎo)
• 兄弟
• 兄弟共妻
• 兄弟會／兄弟会 (xiōngdìhuì)
• 兄弟鬩牆／兄弟阋墙 (xiōngdìxìqiáng)
• 兄死弟及
• 兄終弟及／兄终弟及 (xiōngzhōngdìjí)
• 兄肥弟瘦
• 兄臺／兄台 (xiōngtái)
• 兄長／兄长 (xiōngzhǎng)
• 內兄／内兄 (nèixiōng)
• 內兄弟／内兄弟
• 同胞兄弟 (tóngbāo xiōngdì)
• 吾兄 (wúxiōng)
• 呼兄喚弟／呼兄唤弟
• 堂兄 (tángxiōng)
• 堂兄弟 (tángxiōngdì)
• 大兄 (tōa-hiaⁿ)
• 大師兄／大师兄
• 夫兄弟
• 女兄
• 如兄
• 如兄如弟
• 好兄弟 (hǎoxiōngdì)
• 如兄弟
• 姻兄
• 姻兄弟
• 婦兄／妇兄 (fùxiōng)
• 嫡親兄弟／嫡亲兄弟
• 孔方兄 (kǒngfāngxiōng)
• 孿生兄弟／孪生兄弟 (luánshēng xiōngdì)
• 宗兄
• 家兄
• 尊兄
• 小兄
• 小兄弟
• 巒兄巒弟／峦兄峦弟
• 師兄／师兄 (shīxiōng)
• 師兄弟／师兄弟
• 年兄
• 弟兄 (dìxiong)
• 從兄／从兄 (cóngxiōng)
• 從兄弟／从兄弟 (cóngxiōngdì)
• 房分兄弟
• 把兄弟 (bǎxiōngdì)
• 拜把兄弟
• 換帖兄弟／换帖兄弟
• 族兄弟
• 母兄 (mǔxiōng)
• 法兄
• 烏狗兄／乌狗兄 (o͘-káu-hiaⁿ) (Min Nan)
• 父兄 (fùxiōng)
• 生死弟兄 (shēngsǐ dìxiōng)
• 異母兄弟／异母兄弟 (yìmǔ xiōngdì)
• 盟兄弟 (méngxiōngdì)
• 硯兄／砚兄
• 稱兄道弟／称兄道弟 (chēngxiōngdàodì)
• 結拜兄弟／结拜兄弟 (jiébài xiōngdì)
• 義兄／义兄 (yìxiōng)
• 老兄 (lǎoxiōng)
• 老兄弟
• 胞兄 (bāoxiōng)
• 胞兄弟 (bāoxiōngdì)
• 至親兄弟／至亲兄弟
• 萊特兄弟／莱特兄弟
• 蒼吾讓兄／苍吾让兄
• 表兄 (biǎoxiōng)
• 表兄弟 (biǎoxiōngdì)
• 襟兄 (jīnxiōng)
• 譜兄弟／谱兄弟
• 遠兄弟／远兄弟
• 酒肉兄弟
• 長兄／长兄 (zhǎngxiōng)
• 阿兄 (āxiōng)
• 難兄難弟／难兄难弟
• 香火兄弟

 

Descendants

• → Lao: ເຮຍ (hīa)
• → Thai: เฮีย (hiia)

Japanese

Kanji

兄

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)

1. elder/older brother
2. honorific referencing an older brother figure

Readings

• Go-on: きょう (kyō, Jōyō ^†)^{←きやう (kyau, historical)←くゐやう (kwiyau, ancient)}
• Kan-on: けい (kei, Jōyō)^{←けい (kei, historical)←くゑい (kwei, ancient)}
• Tō-on: ひん (hin)
• Kun: あに (ani, 兄, Jōyō)、にい (nī, 兄)、にいさん (nīsan, 兄さん)、え (e, 兄)^{←え (e, 兄, historical)←𛀁 (ye, 兄, ancient)}、せ (se, 兄)
• Nanori: えだ (eda)^{←えだ (eda, historical)←𛀁だ (yeda, ancient)}、これ (kore)、さき (saki)、しげ (shige)、ただ (tada)、ね (ne)、よし (yoshi)

Compounds

Compounds

• 兄(きょう)弟(だい) (kyōdai)
• 兄(けい)姉(し) (keishi)
• 兄(けい)事(じ) (keiji)
• 兄(けい)弟(てい) (keitei)
• 兄(けい)妹(まい) (keimai)
• 阿(あ)兄(けい) (akei)
• 家(か)兄(けい) (kakei)
• 花(か)兄(けい) (kakei)
• 雅(が)兄(けい) (gakei)
• 学(がっ)兄(けい) (gakkei), 学(がく)兄(けい) (gakukei)
• 貴(き)兄(けい) (kikei)
• 義(ぎ)兄(けい) (gikei)
• 愚(ぐ)兄(けい) (gukei)
• 賢(けん)兄(けい) (kenkei)
• 孔(こう)方(ほう)兄(ひん) (kōhōhin)
• 吾(ご)兄(けい) (gokei)
• 次(じ)兄(けい) (jikei)
• 詞(し)兄(けい) (shikei)
• 実(じっ)兄(けい) (jikkei)
• 舎(しゃ)兄(けい) (shakei), 舎(しゃ)兄(きょう) (shakyō)
• 従(じゅう)兄(けい) (jūkei)
• 諸(しょ)兄(けい) (shokei)
• 新(しん)兄(きょう) (shinkyō)
• 仁(じん)兄(けい) (jinkei)
• 尊(そん)兄(けい) (sonkei)
• 大(たい)兄(けい) (taikei)
• 仲(ちゅう)兄(けい) (chūkei)
• 長(ちょう)兄(けい) (chōkei)
• 伯(はっ)兄(けい) (hakkei)
• 父(ふ)兄(けい) (fukei)
• 亡(ぼう)兄(けい) (bōkei)
• 盟(めい)兄(けい) (meikei)
• 令(れい)兄(けい) (reikei)
• 老(ろう)兄(けい) (rōkei)
• 師兄(すひん) (suhin)
• 兄鷂(このり) (konori)
• 兄鷹(しょう) (shō)
• 兄矢(はや) (haya)
• 御(お)兄(にい) (onī)
• 従兄弟(いとこ) (itoko)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
兄
あに Grade: 2
kun'yomi

From Old Japanese of unclear derivation:

• Probably originally a compound of 吾 (a, Eastern Old Japanese first-person pronoun) +‎ の (no, possessive particle) +‎ 兄 (ye → e, “eldest sibling”, see below):

  ⟨a no₂ ye⟩ → */anʉʲɨe/ → /ani/

• Alternatively, an apophonic form of 姉 (ane, “elder sister”), itself possibly from the same derivation above.
• Several other theories have also been suggested.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) あに [áꜜnì] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [a̠ɲ̟i]

Noun

兄(あに) • (ani) 

1. elder brother
2. elder brother-in-law

   Synonym: 義兄 (gikei)

3. Short for 花の兄 (hana no ani): alternative name for the 梅 (ume), the Japanese plum (Prunus mume)

Usage notes

• (elder brother): This term conveys neither positive nor negative connotations and is often used in objective narrations. However, using it to describe someone the speaker knows personally is often considered lacking respect, where more polite forms like お兄(にい)さん (onīsan) are preferred.

Coordinate terms

• 姉(あね) (ane, “elder sister”)
• 弟(おとうと) (otōto, “younger brother”)
• 妹(いもうと) (imōto, “younger sister”)

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 兄(あに)い (anī)
• 兄(あに)さん (ani-san)
  • 兄(にい)様(さま) (nī-sama) → 兄(にい)さん (nī-san)
• 兄(あに)上(うえ) (aniue)
• 兄(あに)貴(き) (aniki)
• 兄(あに)君(ぎみ) (anigimi)
• 兄(あに)御(ご) (anigo), 兄(あに)御前(ごぜ) (anigoze)
• 兄(あに)者(じゃ)人(ひと) (ani ja hito),兄者(あにじゃ) (anija)
• 兄(あに)弟子(でし) (anideshi)
• 兄(あに)分(ぶん) (anibun)
• 兄(あに)嫁(よめ), 嫂(あによね) (aniyone)
• 花(はな)の兄(あに) (hana no ani)
• 継(まま)兄(あに), 庶(まま)兄(あに) (mamāni)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
兄
けい Grade: 2
kan'on

*/kwæi/ → /kʷæi/ → /keː/

From Middle Chinese 兄 (MC xjwaeng).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) けー [kéꜜè] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [ke̞ː]

• Pitch accent for suffix unknown.

Noun

兄(けい) • (kei) 

1. (rare) an elder brother

   Coordinate term: 弟 (tei)

Idioms

• 兄(けい)たり難(がた)く弟(てい)たり難(がた)し (kei tarigataku tei tarigatashi)

Pronoun

兄(けい) • (kei) 

1. pronoun referencing an older brother figure: you, he

Suffix

兄(けい) • (-kei) 

1. attaches to a name referencing an older brother figure: Mister, Mr.

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
兄
え Grade: 2
kun'yomi

/je/ → /e/

From Old Japanese.

Noun

兄(え) • (e) 

1. (archaic) the eldest sibling

   Antonym: 弟 (oto)

   • 711–712, Kojiki, poem 16:
     , text here

     加都賀都母(かつがつも)伊夜佐岐陀弖流(いやさきだてる)延(𛀁)袁斯麻加牟(をしまかむ) [Man'yōgana]

     かつがつもいや先(さき)立(だ)てる兄(え)をし枕(ま)かむ [Modern spelling]

     katsugatsu mo iya sakidateru e o shi makamu

     If I have to choose, the one standing there in front―the eldest one I'll wed.

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 兄(え)猾(うかし) (Eukashi)
• 兄磯城(えしき) (Eshiki)
• 枝(えだ) (eda, “branch”)
• 兄(え)鼓(つづみ) (etsuzumi)
• 干支(えと) (eto)
• 兄(え)姫(ひめ) (ehime)
• 兄(え)方(ほう) (ehō)
• 姉(あね) (ane, “elder sister”)
• 大(おお)兄(え) (ōe)
• 弟(おとと)兄(い) (ototoi), 弟(おとと)兄(え) (ototoe)

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
兄
せ Grade: 2
kun'yomi

From Old Japanese.

Alternative forms

• 夫, 背

Noun

兄(せ) • (se) 

1. (archaic) a woman's brother (regardless of age difference)
2. (archaic) a woman's lover or husband
3. (archaic) a familiar man

Antonyms

• 妹(いも) (imo)

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 兄(せ)子(こ) (seko)
• 兄(せ)な (sena), 兄(せ)なあ (senā)
• 兄(せ)の君(きみ) (se no kimi)
• 兄(せ)山(やま) (seyama)
• 兄人(しょうと) (shōto), 兄(せ)人(うと) (seuto)
• 兄(せ)ろ (sero)
• 吾(あ)兄(せ) (ase)
• 妹(いも)兄(せ) (imose)
• いろせ (irose)
• 汝(な)兄(せ) (nase)
• 継(まま)兄(せ) (mamase)

Etymology 5

Kanji in this term
兄
このかみ Grade: 2
kun'yomi

From Old Japanese.

Originally a compound of 子 (ko, “child”) +‎ の (no, possessive particle) +‎ 上 (kami, “upper”).

Alternative forms

• 首, 氏上

Noun

兄(このかみ) • (konokami) 

1. (archaic) eldest son

   Synonyms: 長兄 (chōkei), 長男 (chōnan)

2. (archaic) a senior

   Synonym: 年長者 (nenchōsha)

3. (archaic) (by extension) an elder sibling
4. (archaic) the head of a clan
5. (archaic) a skilled craftsman

   Synonym: 頭 (kashira)

Derived terms

• 兄(このかみ)心(ごころ) (konokami-gokoro)
• 兄(このこう)部(べ) (konokōbe)

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 兄 (MC xjwaeng).

Historical Readings
Dongguk Jeongun Reading
Dongguk Jeongun, 1448	ᄒᆑᇰ (Yale: hyyèng)
Middle Korean
Text	Eumhun
	Gloss (hun)	Reading
Hunmong Jahoe, 1527[2]	ᄆᆞᆮ (Yale: mòt)	혀ᇰ (Yale: hyèng)

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [çʌ̹ŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: [형]

Hanja

Wikisource

兄 (eumhun 형 형 (hyeong hyeong))

1. hanja form^? of 형 (“older brother of a male”) [noun]

Compounds

Compounds

• 매형 (妹兄, maehyeong)
• 형부 (兄夫, hyeongbu)
• 형제 (兄弟, hyeongje)

References

• 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [3]

Vietnamese

Han character

兄: Hán Nôm readings: huynh

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

Derived terms

• 兄弟 (huynh đệ)
• 師兄 (sư huynh)
• 父兄 (phụ huynh)