嫂

sǎo

叟 + 女

Definitions

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

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 叟 represents the sound.

Semantic: 女 Phonetic: 叟

About

The Chinese character 嫂 is a phonosemantic compound that specifically means the wife of an older brother. It combines the semantic radical 女 'woman' on the left, which classifies the character as relating to females, and the phonetic component 叟 'old man' on the right, which provides the pronunciation and hints at seniority. Although the term is strictly a kinship designation, it has developed a broader use as a respectful form of address for any married woman of the speaker's generation, demonstrating the cultural emphasis on family-based respect and social hierarchy.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这是我嫂子。

Zhè shì wǒ sǎozi.

This is my sister-in-law.

大嫂昨天来我家做客。

Dàsǎo zuótiān lái wǒ jiā zuòkè.

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

我嫂嫂是一位护士。

Wǒ sǎosao shì yī wèi hùshi.

My sister-in-law is a nurse.

王嫂做的菜非常好吃。

Wáng sǎo zuò de cài fēicháng hǎochī.

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

表哥和嫂子的感情很好。

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.

他大嫂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.

我哥哥和嫂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.

Related Characters

Component: 叟

Component: 女

嫂