姊 (zǐ) - Older sister & elder sister (formal/literary term).

姊Tone 3

zǐ ｜ 7 strokes ｜ radical: 女

志

姊 · zǐ

Older sister;

elder sister (formal/literary term).

Older sisterelder sister (formal/literary term).

Usage highlights

Elder sisterOlder sisterEldest sisterSisterSistersSisterly affection

Synonyms

  • 姐— older sister (more common in modern usage)
  • 姐姐— older sister (common spoken form)
  • 姊姊— elder sister (formal/literary)

Antonyms

  • 妹— younger sister
  • 弟弟— younger brother

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • My elder sister is very caring (我的姊姊很关心我).
  • She has two older sisters (她有两个姊姊).
  • In traditional families, the eldest sister often helps care for younger siblings (在传统家庭中，长姊常帮忙照顾弟妹).

Collocations

  • Elder sister(姊姊)
  • Older sister(姊姊)
  • Eldest sister(长姊)
  • Sister-in-law(嫂姊)
  • Sisters(姊妹)
  • Sisterly affection(姊情)

Idioms

  • Sisters (姊妹情深) - Deep affection between sisters
  • Brothers and sisters (兄弟姊妹) - Siblings
  • Like sisters (情同姊妹) - As close as sisters

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Traditionally used in formal contexts to refer to an older sister, especially in written Chinese.
  • In modern spoken Mandarin, 姐姐 is more common, while 姊 is often found in literature and formal writing.
  • The character reflects the importance of seniority in traditional Chinese family relationships.

FAQ