jiějie: 姐姐 - Older Sister

• Keywords: jiejie, 姐姐, older sister in Chinese, how to say older sister in Mandarin, Chinese family terms, addressing women in China, Chinese kinship terms, jiejie meaning, Chinese culture respect
• Summary: “姐姐” (jiějie) literally means “older sister” in Mandarin Chinese. Beyond its use within the family, it is a common and respectful term of address for any female friend, acquaintance, or even a stranger who is slightly older than you. Learning to use “姐姐” correctly is key to sounding natural and polite in everyday Chinese conversation, reflecting cultural values of respect for age and community.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiějie
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: An older sister; a respectful term for a slightly older female.
• In a Nutshell: “姐姐” is more than just a family label. Think of it as a default, friendly social tool. In China, it's common to build a sense of community by using family-like terms for others. Calling a female shopkeeper or a new friend who is a few years older than you “姐姐” instantly closes the distance, showing respect and warmth. It's a verbal equivalent of a friendly nod.

• 姐 (jiě): This character is composed of two parts. The radical on the left is 女 (nǚ), which means “woman” or “female”. The part on theright, 且 (qiě), acts as the phonetic component. You can think of it as “the woman who came before” or is older.
• 姐 (jiě): The character is repeated. In Chinese, reduplicating nouns, especially for family members, often adds a sense of familiarity, affection, and casualness. It makes the term sound softer and more personal than just a single “姐”.

The combination simply solidifies the meaning of “older sister” with an affectionate tone.

• In Chinese culture, age hierarchy and showing respect to elders (even those only slightly older) is fundamental. Using the term “姐姐” is a direct application of this value. Instead of defaulting to a first name as in the West, using a term like “姐姐” or “哥哥” (gēge, older brother) immediately establishes a respectful and harmonious relationship.
• Comparison to Western Culture: In American or British culture, calling a female friend who is five years older “older sister” would be very unusual and might even sound strange or overly familiar. You would almost always use their first name. In China, the opposite is true; using their first name might feel too distant or cold, while “姐姐” is the warm, socially appropriate default. This highlights the Chinese cultural emphasis on collectivism and integrating non-family members into a close-knit social fabric, as opposed to the more individualistic approach common in the West.

“姐姐” is an extremely versatile term used constantly in daily life.

• Within the Family: This is the most literal usage. If you have one or more biological older sisters, you would call them “姐姐”. If you have several, you might distinguish them as 大姐 (dàjiě - eldest sister), 二姐 (èrjiě - second oldest sister), and so on.
• With Friends and Peers: It's very common to call a female friend or classmate who is older than you “姐姐”. This is often attached to their surname, for example, “李姐” (Lǐ jiě) or “王姐姐” (Wáng jiějie). It signifies a relationship that is both friendly and respectful.
• Addressing Strangers: This is a key skill for learners. If you need to get the attention of a female waitress, shop assistant, or just ask for directions from someone on the street who appears to be in her 20s or 30s (and older than you), calling out “姐姐!” is a polite and effective way to do it. It's much friendlier than the generic “服务员” (fúwùyuán - service staff) or a blunt “hello”.
• Online and with Celebrities: Younger fans often refer to their favorite female celebrities who are older than them as “姐姐”. This is a term of endearment and respect in fan culture. You'll also see the term “小姐姐” (xiǎo jiějie), literally “little older sister,” used online as a cute and trendy way to refer to any attractive young woman.

• Example 1:
  • 我姐姐比我大三岁。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jiějie bǐ wǒ dà sān suì.
  • English: My older sister is three years older than me.
  • Analysis: This is the most basic, literal use of the word, referring to a biological sibling.
• Example 2:
  • 姐姐，请问这个多少钱？
  • Pinyin: Jiějie, qǐngwèn zhège duōshǎo qián?
  • English: “Older sister” (Miss), excuse me, how much is this?
  • Analysis: A classic example of addressing a female shopkeeper or vendor who is roughly your age or slightly older. It's friendly and polite.
• Example 3:
  • 这是我的好朋友，张姐姐。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒ de hǎo péngyǒu, Zhāng jiějie.
  • English: This is my good friend, Zhang-jiejie (Older Sister Zhang).
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how to use “姐姐” as a title after a surname to refer to an older female friend respectfully.
• Example 4:
  • 有什么事，就告诉姐姐，我帮你。
  • Pinyin: Yǒu shénme shì, jiù gàosù jiějie, wǒ bāng nǐ.
  • English: If anything is wrong, just tell your “older sister” (me), I'll help you.
  • Analysis: Here, an older female is referring to *herself* as “姐姐” when speaking to a younger person. This creates a caring, protective, and intimate tone.
• Example 5:
  • 我有两个姐姐和一个妹妹。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yǒu liǎng ge jiějie hé yí ge mèimei.
  • English: I have two older sisters and one younger sister.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly contrasts “姐姐” (older sister) with “妹妹” (mèimei - younger sister).
• Example 6:
  • 姐姐，你的手机掉地上了！
  • Pinyin: Jiějie, nǐ de shǒujī diào dì shàng le!
  • English: Miss (Older Sister), you dropped your phone!
  • Analysis: A perfect example of how to use the term to get a stranger's attention politely in public.
• Example 7:
  • 李姐姐做的饭特别好吃。
  • Pinyin: Lǐ jiějie zuò de fàn tèbié hǎochī.
  • English: The food that Older Sister Li makes is especially delicious.
  • Analysis: Shows affection and respect for a specific person, likely a close friend, neighbor, or family friend.
• Example 8:
  • 我妈妈说，要听姐姐的话。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ māma shuō, yào tīng jiějie de huà.
  • English: My mom said I have to listen to my older sister.
  • Analysis: This highlights the role of the “姐姐” as an authority figure within the family, reflecting cultural values of respecting one's elders.
• Example 9:
  • 姐姐，谢谢你送我回家。
  • Pinyin: Jiějie, xièxie nǐ sòng wǒ huí jiā.
  • English: “Older sister,” thank you for taking me home.
  • Analysis: Used to express gratitude towards a slightly older female, reinforcing a warm and appreciative relationship.
• Example 10:
  • 那个穿红色衣服的姐姐很漂亮。
  • Pinyin: Nàge chuān hóngsè yīfu de jiějie hěn piàoliang.
  • English: That “older sister” (young woman) in the red dress is very pretty.
  • Analysis: Here, “姐姐” is used as a general noun to refer to a young woman, similar to saying “that lady” or “that girl” in English, but with a friendly and respectful connotation.

• Mistake 1: Getting the Age Wrong. The most common mistake is misjudging age. Calling a woman in her 50s “姐姐” might be seen as awkward flattery, or even disrespectful. For women of your parents' generation, you should use 阿姨 (āyí). Conversely, calling a teenage girl “姐姐” when you are 30 is incorrect; she is your 妹妹 (mèimei). “姐姐” is for women who are older than you, but generally within the same generation.
• Mistake 2: Using it in Highly Formal Contexts. While common, in a very formal international business meeting or academic conference, addressing a senior female colleague as “姐姐” might be too informal. In these cases, using her professional title, like “王经理” (Wáng jīnglǐ - Manager Wang) or “李教授” (Lǐ jiàoshòu - Professor Li), is more appropriate.
• False Friend: “Sister”. Do not think of “姐姐” as a direct translation of the English word “sister”. While it includes biological sisters, its social application is much, much broader. In English, you would almost never call a waitress “sister”. In Chinese, calling a waitress “姐姐” is normal and polite. The scope of “姐姐” is defined by relative age and social context, not just blood relation.

• 哥哥 (gēge) - Older brother. The direct male equivalent of 姐姐.
• 妹妹 (mèimei) - Younger sister. The opposite of 姐姐 in terms of age.
• 弟弟 (dìdi) - Younger brother.
• 大姐 (dàjiě) - Literally “big sister,” meaning the eldest sister. It can also be used to address a middle-aged woman, often one in a working-class role (e.g., a cleaner or cook), with a sense of respect.
• 小姐姐 (xiǎo jiějie) - A modern, internet-era term meaning “little older sister.” It's a cute, affectionate, and slightly flirtatious way to refer to a pretty young woman.
• 阿姨 (āyí) - Auntie. The correct term to address a woman from your parents' generation (e.g., a woman in her 50s or 60s).
• 美女 (měinǚ) - “Beautiful woman.” A very common and informal way to get a young woman's attention, often used interchangeably with 姐姐 in casual settings like restaurants or shops.
• 服务员 (fúwùyuán) - “Waiter/waitress/staff.” A more formal and impersonal term for service staff. Using 姐姐 or 帅哥 (shuàigē) is often friendlier.
• 家人 (jiārén) - Family members. The core concept that terms like 姐姐 extend from to create a wider social family.