Learn a Chinese Character - 哥

1. Character Basics

Radical: 口 (kǒu, mouth)

Stroke Count: 10

Structure: The character consists of two "可" (kě, can) components stacked vertically, with the lower one having an additional horizontal stroke.

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Gē (First tone)

3. Meaning

Core Meaning: Older brother; elder brother; also used affectionately for males in informal settings

The character "哥" primarily refers to an older male sibling, but it can also be used as a friendly form of address for males slightly older than oneself in casual situations.

4. Common Words

• 哥哥 (gēge) - older brother

  Example: 我的哥哥比我大五岁。(Wǒ de gēge bǐ wǒ dà wǔ suì.) - My older brother is five years older than me.

• 大哥 (dàgē) - eldest brother; big brother

  Example: 他是我们家的大哥。(Tā shì wǒmen jiā de dàgē.) - He is the eldest brother in our family.

• 哥们儿 (gēmenr) - buddies; pals (colloquial)

  Example: 我们是好哥们儿。(Wǒmen shì hǎo gēmenr.) - We are good buddies.

• 哥俩好 (gēliǎhào) - good relationship between brothers or friends

  Example: 他们俩从小就哥俩好。(Tāmen liǎ cóngxiǎo jiù gēliǎhào.) - They have been close since childhood.

• 哥斯达黎加 (Gēsīdálíjiā) - Costa Rica (country name)

  Example: 哥斯达黎加是中美洲的一个国家。(Gēsīdálíjiā shì Zhōngměizhōu de yīgè guójiā.) - Costa Rica is a country in Central America.

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech: Noun

Usage Patterns:

• Used alone or in reduplication (哥哥, gēge) to refer to one's older brother
• Combined with other characters to form kinship terms (大哥, dàgē; 二哥, èrgē)
• Used as a form of address for slightly older males in informal contexts
• Can be part of country names or other proper nouns

Common Collocations:

• 亲兄弟 (qīnxiōngdì) - biological brothers
• 堂兄弟 (tángxiōngdì) - paternal cousins
• 表哥 (biǎogē) - cousin (mother's side, older)

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the term "哥" holds significant importance in family relationships, representing the traditional value of respecting elders within sibling relationships.

Family Structure: Historically, in Chinese families with multiple children, older brothers often played a role in supporting and protecting younger siblings, especially when parents were absent.

Social Etiquette: Beyond biological relationships, "哥" is commonly used as a friendly form of address between males, indicating closeness or respect in social interactions.

Modern Usage: In contemporary Chinese, especially among younger generations, "哥" is frequently used in casual settings to address males, regardless of actual age difference, as a way to establish a friendly rapport.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

1. Component Analysis: The character "哥" consists of two parts that resemble the character "可" (kě) stacked vertically. The lower part has an additional horizontal stroke at the bottom.

2. Visual Association: Imagine two people standing one above the other, representing brothers. The "口" (mouth) radical at the bottom suggests communication between siblings.

3. Word Family: Learn related words together:

• 哥 (gē) - older brother
• 哥哥 (gēge) - older brother (affectionate)
• 大哥 (dàgē) - eldest brother

4. Memory Phrase: "两个可口的哥哥" (Liǎng gè kěkǒu de gēge) - "Two delicious older brothers" (though not literally meaningful, the sound connection helps with memorization).