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.
哥
Common Usage & Traps
- 哥哥 — older brother
- 大哥 — eldest brother; big brother
- 表哥 — older male cousin
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一个哥一个哥哥When counting, use the reduplicated form 哥哥, not the single character 哥.
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我的哥我的哥哥To say 'my older brother', use 哥哥. 我的哥 sounds incomplete and unnatural in modern Mandarin.
What is the difference between 哥 and 歌?
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 |
Can 哥 be used alone to mean 'older brother'?
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 descriptive word | 大哥 | 大哥哥 (not standard for eldest brother) |
| Counting | 一个哥哥 | 一个哥 |
Appears in Stories 2 stories
This playful rhyme helps you learn family words in Chinese. Practice saying who's who with simple questions and answers!
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这个小朋友是 我哥 。
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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.
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哥哥 爱唱歌。
Questions & Discussion 0 questions
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