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 a phono-semantic compound precisely designating the wife of an older brother. Its semantic component, the woman radical 女 on the left, classifies it within the category of female relatives. The phonetic component 叟 on the right governs its pronunciation and originally meant "elder". Beyond its strict kinship definition, the term's use expanded sociolinguistically to become a respectful address for any married woman of a similar age to the speaker, reflecting cultural norms of familial hierarchy and respect.

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.