zǐ

姊

Character · Noun

elder sister

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 6 examples
1.

noun

elder sister (equivalent to 姐姐)

formal

More formal or literary than 姐姐; commonly used in written Chinese, formal speech, and certain dialects (e.g., Taiwanese Mandarin).

Tā她
shì是
wǒ我
zǐ姊
 。

She is my elder sister.

Wǒ我
yǒu有
yī一
wèi位
zǐ姊
zǐ姊
zài在
Tái台
běi北
gōng工
zuò作
 。

I have an elder sister working in Taipei.

Show 1 more example
Zhǎng长
zǐ姊
rú如
mǔ母
 。

The eldest sister is like a mother.

2.

noun

sister (used in compounds)

Commonly used in the compound 姊妹 to refer to sisters collectively, or in specific kinship terms.

Wǒ我
men们
zǐ姊
mèi妹
sān三
rén人
dōu都
jié结
hūn婚
le了
 。

We three sisters are all married.

Zhè这
duì对
zǐ姊
mèi妹
huā花
zhǎng长
de得
dōu都
hěn很
piào漂
liang亮
 。

These two beautiful sisters are both very pretty.

Show 1 more example
Tā她
men们
shì是
qīn亲
zǐ姊
mèi妹
 。

They are biological sisters.