Definitions

sǎo (noun) older brother's wife; sister-in-law

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "嫂" is structured with the female radical "女" on the left and the component "叟" on the right, where "叟" signifies an elder man and contributes phonetically. Etymologically, this formation originally denoted the wife of one's elder brother, aligning with patrilineal family roles in early Chinese society. While its primary meaning as "sister-in-law" has persisted, the term gradually expanded to function as a respectful address for older married women in broader social contexts, reflecting a shift in usage from strictly familial to more general polite reference.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这是我子。

Zhè shì wǒ sǎozi.

This is my sister-in-law.

昨天来我家做客。

Dàsǎo zuótiān lái wǒ jiā zuòkè.

Elder sister-in-law came to visit my house yesterday.

是一位护士。

Wǒ sǎosao shì yī wèi hùshi.

My sister-in-law is a nurse.

做的菜非常好吃。

Wáng sǎo zuò de cài fēicháng hǎochī.

Sister-in-law Wang's cooking is very delicious.

表哥和子的感情很好。

Biǎogē hé sǎozi de gǎnqíng hěn hǎo.

My cousin and his wife have a very good relationship.

李阿姨的儿媳对她像亲妈一样。

Lǐ āyí de érxí duì tā xiàng qīn mā yīyàng.

Aunt Li's daughter-in-law treats her like her own mother.

他大在社区里很受人尊敬。

Tā dàsǎo zài shèqū lǐ hěn shòu rén zūnjìng.

His elder sister-in-law is highly respected in the community.

我哥哥和子计划下个月去旅行。

Wǒ gēge hé sǎozi jìhuà xià gè yuè qù lǚxíng.

My elder brother and his wife plan to travel next month.