兄 (xiōng) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 兄 (xiōng) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 兄 (xiōng) means "elder brother". It is an HSK Level 4 character, with 5 strokes and the radical 儿.

Q: How do you write 兄 stroke by stroke?

兄 has 5 strokes. The radical is 儿. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 兄 and 兀?

兄 (xiōng) and 兀 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 兄?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 儿. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 兄?

Common words containing 兄 include: 兄弟 (xiōng dì) — brothers; younger brother; 兄长 (xiōng zhǎng) — elder brother; 堂兄 (táng xiōng) — older male cousin (paternal).

How to Write 兄

The character 兄 (xiōng) is written with 5 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 儿 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

兄 is pronounced xiōng in Mandarin Chinese. It means elder brother.

As an HSK Level 4 character, 兄 is an intermediate-level character.

Common Words with 兄

兄弟 xiōng dì

brothers; younger brother

兄长 xiōng zhǎng

elder brother

堂兄 táng xiōng

older male cousin (paternal)

Example Sentences

他有三个兄弟。

tā yǒu sān gè xiōng dì

He has three brothers.

他是我的兄长。

tā shì wǒ de xiōng zhǎng

He is my elder brother.

堂兄比我大两岁。

táng xiōng bǐ wǒ dà liǎng suì

My older male cousin is two years older than me.

Similar Characters

兀 wù

允 yǔn

元 yuán

Practice Writing 兄 (xiōng)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 兄 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 兄

What does 兄 (xiōng) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 兄 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 兄 and 兀?

What mistakes do learners make writing 兄?

What common words use 兄?

How to Write 兄 (xiōng)