n.
older sister; elder sister
姐姐
Common Usage & Traps
- 我姐姐 — my older sister (casual, drops 的)
- 我的姐姐 — my older sister (explicit, slightly formal)
- 姐姐和妹妹 — older sister and younger sister
- 一个姐姐 — one older sister (as in 我有一个姐姐)
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大姐姐姐姐If you mean your own older sister, just say 姐姐. 大姐姐 sounds like a child calling an older girl, not the standard family word.
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我是姐姐我有姐姐是 means 'am', so 我是姐姐 means I am the older sister, not I have an older sister.
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我姐姐 (referring to a younger sister)我妹妹姐姐 only means older sister. English 'sister' does not mark age, but Chinese does.
Do you say 我姐姐 or 我的姐姐?
Both work, but 我姐姐 is the everyday choice for family.
With close family and personal ties, Chinese often drops 的. 我姐姐 sounds casual and natural. 我的姐姐 is also correct, but it feels more explicit or formal. The story uses 我家人, not 我的家人, for the same reason. “哥哥和弟弟，姐姐和妹妹 也是我家人，也是好朋友。” (My older and younger brothers, my older and younger sisters — they're my family and also my good friends.) ── [《我的家人（2）》](/read/my-family-members#s9)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Casual chat | 我姐姐 | 我的姐姐 (sounds stiff here) |
| Formal writing | 我的姐姐 | 我姐姐 (too casual here) |
Why does 姐姐 sound like jiě jie, not jiě jiě?
The second 姐 loses its full third tone and becomes neutral.
In 姐姐, the first syllable keeps the third tone, but the second syllable is neutral. You say it light and quick, like the second syllable in 谢谢. If you say jiě jiě with two full third tones, it sounds stiff and foreign.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Second syllable | 姐姐 jiě jie (neutral) | 姐姐 jiě jiě (two full tones) |
| Similar pattern | 谢谢 xiè xie | 谢谢 xiè xiè |
Can you call an older woman 姐姐 if she is not your sister?
Yes, it flatters youth, but don't use it on a grandma.
Chinese people often call unrelated older girls or young women 姐姐. It is warm, friendly, and slightly flattering. But if the woman is clearly much older, use a different term. Calling her 姐姐 can feel awkward or even sarcastic.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Older young woman | 姐姐 | 妹妹 (wrong age) |
| Your own older sister | 姐姐 | 妹妹 (wrong age) |
Appears in Stories 2 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
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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姐姐 买衣服。
This playful rhyme helps you learn family words in Chinese. Practice saying who's who with simple questions and answers!
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哥哥和弟弟， 姐姐 和妹妹也是我家人，也是好朋友。
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