A repeated sound, chant, or song. Elder brother; older male friend or buddy. Two 可 (able/voice) blocks stacked: the doubly capable older sibling above.
When counting, use the reduplicated form 哥哥, not the single character 哥.
To say 'my older brother', use 哥哥. 我的哥 sounds incomplete and unnatural in modern Mandarin.
哥 means 'older brother'; 歌 means 'song'.
Both are pronounced gē, but 哥 is a noun for an older brother, while 歌 is a noun for a song or the act of singing. They are different characters and cannot be swapped.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | 哥 = older brother | 歌 = song |
| Example | 哥哥爱唱歌。 | 哥哥爱唱哥。 (wrong character) |
| Common mistake | Using 歌 for brother | Using 哥 for song |
No, 哥 is bound and must be reduplicated as 哥哥 or used in compounds.
In modern Mandarin, 哥 does not stand alone as a noun. It appears in 哥哥, 大哥, 表哥, and similar compounds. Saying just 哥 for 'older brother' sounds incomplete or dialectal.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone | 哥哥 | 哥 |
| With modifier | 大哥 | 大哥哥 (not standard for eldest brother) |
| Counting | 一个哥哥 | 一个哥 |
This playful rhyme helps you learn family words in Chinese. Practice saying who's who with simple questions and answers!
这个小朋友是 我哥 。
哥哥 和弟弟，姐姐和妹妹也是我家人，也是好朋友。
This simple story introduces you to a family and what each member likes to do. Learn helpful words for food and daily activities as you read about Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad, and the kids.
哥哥 爱唱歌。
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