# 兄

| 兄 | U+5144, &#20804; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5144 |
| ← 元 [U+5143] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 充 → [U+5145] |

## Translingual
### Han character

兄 (Kangxi radical 10, 儿+3, 5 strokes, cangjie input 口竹山 (RHU), four-corner 6021$_0$, 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
### 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 scriptj20630j20631j20632j20633j20634j20635j20636j20637j20638j20639j20640j20641j20642j20643j20644j20645j20646j20647j20648j20649j20650j20651j20652j20653j20654j20655j20656j20657j20658j20659j20660j20661j20662j20663j20664j20665j20666j20667j20668j20669j20670j20671j20672j20673j20674j20675j20676j20677j20678j20679j20680j20681j20682j20683j20684j20685j20686j20687j20688j20689j20690j20691j20692j20693j20694j20695j20696j20697j20698j20699j20700j20701j20702j20703j20704j20705j20706j20707j20708j20709j20710j20711j20712j20713j20714j20715j20716j20717j20718j20719j20720j20721j20722j20723j20724j20725j20726j20727j20728j20729j20730j20731j20732j20733j20734j20735j20736j20737j20738j20739j20740j20741j20742j20743j20744Bronze inscriptionsb13475b13476b13477b13478b13479b13480b13481b13482b13483b13484b13485b13486b13487b13488b13489b13490b13491b13492b13493b13494b13495b13496b13497b13498b13499b13500b13501b13502b13504Small seal scripts06205Transcribed ancient scriptsL33193L33194L10751L10752L10753L10754L10755L10756L10757L10758L10759 |||||
| 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). |||||
| | 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 (xiong$^1$)
       (Zhuyin): ㄒㄩㄥ
    (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): xiong$^1$
    (Xi'an, Guanzhong Pinyin): xiǒng
    (Nanjing, Nanjing Pinyin): xiòn
    (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): щүн (xün, I)
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): hing$^1$
    (Dongguan, Jyutping++): heang$^1$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): hen$^1$
* Gan (Wiktionary): xiang$^1$ / xiung$^1$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): hiûng
    (Hailu, HRS): hiung$^ˋ$
    (Meixian, Guangdong): hiung$^1$
* Jin (Wiktionary): xyng$^1$
* Northern Min (KCR): hiáng / hé̤ng
* Eastern Min (BUC): hiăng / hĭng
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): hia$^1$ / hiaⁿ$^1$ / hing$^1$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): hiaⁿ / heng
    (Teochew, Peng'im): hian$^1$
    (Leizhou, Leizhou Pinyin): hia$^1$ / hiong$^1$
* Southern Pinghua (Nanning, Jyutping++): hiang$^1$, wiang$^1$
* Wu (Wugniu)
** (Northern): $^1$shion
** (Jinhua): $^1$shion
* Xiang
    (Changsha, Wiktionary): xiong$^1$
    (Loudi, Wiktionary): xyn$^1$
    (Hengyang, Wiktionary): xin$^1$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: xiōng
*** Zhuyin: ㄒㄩㄥ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: syong
*** Wade–Giles: hsiung$^1$
*** Yale: syūng
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shiong
*** Palladius: сюн (sjun)
*** Sinological IPA : /ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵/
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: xiong$^1$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: xyng
*** Sinological IPA : /ɕyoŋ⁵⁵/
** (Xi'an)
*** Guanzhong Pinyin: xiǒng
*** Sinological IPA : /ɕyoŋ²¹/
** (Nanjing)
*** Nanjing Pinyin: xiòn
*** Nanjing Pinyin (numbered): xion$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /ɕioŋ³¹/
** (Dungan)
*** Cyrillic and Wiktionary: щүн (xün, I)
*** Sinological IPA : /ɕyŋ²⁴/
    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: hing$^1$
*** Yale: hīng
*** Cantonese Pinyin: hing$^1$
*** Guangdong Romanization: hing$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /hɪŋ⁵⁵/
** (Dongguan, Guancheng)
*** Jyutping++: heang$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /həŋ²¹³/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: hen$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /hen³³/
* Gan
** (Nanchang)
*** Wiktionary: xiang$^1$ / xiung$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /ɕiaŋ⁴²/, /ɕiuŋ⁴²/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: hiûng
*** Hakka Romanization System: hiung$^ˊ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: hiung$^1$
*** Sinological IPA: /hi̯uŋ²⁴/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: hiung$^ˋ$
*** Sinological IPA: /hiuŋ⁵³/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: hiung$^1$
*** Sinological IPA: /hiʊŋ⁴⁴/
* Jin
** (Taiyuan)
*** Wiktionary: xyng$^1$
*** Sinological IPA (old-style): /ɕyŋ¹¹/
* Northern Min
** (Jian'ou)
*** Kienning Colloquial Romanized: hiáng / hé̤ng
*** Sinological IPA : /xiaŋ⁵⁴/, /xœyŋ⁵⁴/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: hiăng / hĭng
*** Sinological IPA : /hiaŋ⁵⁵/, /hiŋ⁵⁵/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: hia$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /hia⁵³³/
** (Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: hiaⁿ$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /hĩã⁵³³/
** (Putian, Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: hing$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /hiŋ⁵³³/
* hia1/hiaⁿ1 - vernacular;
* hing1 - literary.
* Dialectal data
| Variety | Location | edit兄 |
| Mandarin | Beijing | /ɕioŋ⁵⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Harbin | /ɕioŋ⁴⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Tianjin | /ɕioŋ²¹/ |
| Mandarin | Jinan | /ɕioŋ²¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Qingdao | /ɕiŋ²¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Zhengzhou | /ɕyoŋ²⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Xi'an | /ɕioŋ²¹/ |
| Mandarin | Xining | /ɕyə̃⁴⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Yinchuan | /ɕyoŋ⁴⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Lanzhou | /xỹn³¹/ |
| Mandarin | Ürümqi | /ɕioŋ⁴⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Wuhan | /ɕioŋ⁵⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Chengdu | /ɕyoŋ⁵⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Guiyang | /ɕioŋ⁵⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Kunming | /ɕioŋ⁴⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Nanjing | /ɕioŋ³¹/ |
| Mandarin | Hefei | /xiŋ²¹/ |
| Jin | Taiyuan | /ɕyəŋ¹¹/ |
| Jin | Pingyao | /ɕioŋ¹³/ /ɕy¹³/ ～弟 |
| Jin | Hohhot | /ɕỹŋ³¹/ |
| Wu | Shanghai | /ɕioŋ⁵³/ |
| Wu | Suzhou | /ɕioŋ⁵⁵/ |
| Wu | Hangzhou | /ɕioŋ³³/ |
| Wu | Wenzhou | /ɕoŋ³³/ |
| Hui | Shexian | /ɕyʌ̃³¹/ |
| Hui | Tunxi | /ɕyɛ¹¹/ |
| Xiang | Changsha | /ɕioŋ³³/ |
| Xiang | Xiangtan | /ɕin³³/ |
| Gan | Nanchang | /ɕiɑŋ⁴²/ /ɕiuŋ⁴²/ 弟～ |
| Hakka | Meixian | /hiuŋ⁴⁴/ |
| Hakka | Taoyuan | /hioŋ²⁴/ |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | /heŋ⁵³/ |
| Cantonese | Nanning | /heŋ⁵⁵/ |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | /hiŋ⁵⁵/ |
| Min | Xiamen (Hokkien) | /hiŋ⁵/ /hia⁵⁵/ |
| Min | Fuzhou (Eastern Min) | /hiŋ⁴⁴/ |
| Min | Jian'ou (Northern Min) | /xœyŋ⁵⁴/ /xiaŋ⁵⁴/ |
| Min | Shantou (Teochew) | /hiã³³/ |
| Min | 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 | hing$^1$ |
* 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
* elder brother
* elder male cousin
    堂兄 ― tángxiōng ― father’s brother’s son older than oneself
* brother (male friend of the same generation)
* (Hokkien, familiar) respectful honorific used after a name for an elder brother or any male senior: Mister; Brother

#### Synonyms

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

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)
* elder/older brother
* honorific referencing an older brother figure

#### Readings

* Go-on: きょう (kyō, Jōyō $^†$)
* Kan-on: けい (kei, Jōyō)
* 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)、せ (se, 兄)
* Nanori: えだ (eda)、これ (kore)、さき (saki)、しげ (shige)、ただ (tada)、ね (ne)、よし (yoshi)

#### 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 no$_2$ 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: [a̠ɲ̟i]

#### Noun

兄(あに) • (ani)
* elder brother
* elder brother-in-law
    Synonym: 義兄 (gikei)
* 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

* 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: [ke̞ː]
* Pitch accent for suffix unknown.

#### Noun

兄(けい) • (kei)
* (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)
* pronoun referencing an older brother figure: you, he

#### Suffix

兄(けい) • (-kei)
* 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)
* (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]

##### 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)
* (archaic) a woman's brother (regardless of age difference)
* (archaic) a woman's lover or husband
* (archaic) a familiar man

##### Antonyms

* 妹(いも) (imo)

##### 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)
* (archaic) eldest son
    Synonyms: 長兄 (chōkei), 長男 (chōnan)
* (archaic) a senior
    Synonym: 年長者 (nenchōsha)
* (archaic) (by extension) an elder sibling
* (archaic) the head of a clan
* (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)

### References

* 1 2 Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
* ↑ Matsuoka Shizuo (1929) 日本古語大辞典 [Comprehensive Dictionary of Archaic Japanese]‎ (in Japanese), アネ（姉）, page 56: “之からアニといふ語が分派した ― The word ani developed from this”
* 1 2 3 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
* ↑ NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN
* ↑ Edwin A. Cranston (1998) The Gem-Glistening Cup (Volume 1 of A Waka Anthology), illustrated, reprint edition, Stanford University Press, →ISBN, page 17
* ↑ Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN

## Korean
### Etymology

From Middle Chinese 兄 (MC xjwaeng).
Historical Readings :
| Dongguk Jeongun Reading |||
| Dongguk Jeongun, 1448 | ᄒᆑᇰ (Yale: hyyèng) | ᄒᆑᇰ (Yale: hyyèng) |
| Middle Korean |||
| Text | Eumhun | Eumhun |
| Text | Gloss (hun) | Reading |
| Hunmong Jahoe, 1527 | ᄆᆞᆮ (Yale: mòt) | 혀ᇰ (Yale: hyèng) |

### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [çʌ̹ŋ]
* Phonetic hangul: [형]

### Hanja

Wikisource 兄 (eumhun 형 형 (hyeong hyeong))
* hanja form of 형 (“older brother of a male”) [noun]

#### 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.

## Vietnamese
### Han character

兄: Hán Nôm readings: huynh
* 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)