xiōng

elder brother

Pictograph of a mouth on top of a person, representing an older brother giving orders.

Components
口 iconic component

  Iconic component

kǒu

  

mouth

人 iconic component

  Iconic component

rén

  

person

Evolution

兄 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
兄 Bronze script Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze script

Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
兄 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
兄 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
兄 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

xiōng

elder brother

Most common words with 兄
Freq.
Word
Meaning

兄弟

brothers

老兄

'old chap' (form of address between male friends)

elder brother

师兄

senior male fellow student or apprentice

兄妹

brother(s) and sister(s)

Component uses

Sound component in 3 characters (2 verified)