The word "表哥" (biǎogē) is a compound noun formed by combining two morphemes: "表" (biǎo), which denotes a collateral or external family relationship (specifically, relationships through one's mother's side or one's paternal aunts), and "哥" (gē), meaning "elder brother". Therefore, "表哥" literally and precisely means "maternal elder male cousin" or, more broadly, any elder male cousin from outside one's immediate paternal lineage. This structure is typical of Chinese kinship terminology, where a relational prefix (like "表" for external, or "堂" for paternal) is fixed to a core family term ("哥", "姐", "弟", "妹") to create a highly specific and logical designation for extended family members.