Since Chinese people make much of pecking order (長幼有序)~
there are several kinds of "cousins" in Chinese language.
Different kinds of "cousins" show the differences in age and gender.
In Mandarin Chinese~ "a cousin" could be...
táng gē
堂哥 (male cousin, older than you)
堂哥 (male cousin, older than you)
táng dì
堂弟 (male cousin, younger than you)
堂弟 (male cousin, younger than you)
táng zǐ
堂姊 (female cousin, older than you)
堂姊 (female cousin, older than you)
táng mèi
堂妹 (female cousin, younger than you)
堂妹 (female cousin, younger than you)
if this cousin is a child of your father's brother(s).
In General situation, this cousin and you have the same family name.
In General situation, this cousin and you have the same family name.
OR
biǎo gē
表哥 (male cousin, older than you)
表哥 (male cousin, older than you)
biǎo dì
表弟 (male cousin, younger than you)
表弟 (male cousin, younger than you)
biǎo zǐ
表姊 (female cousin, older than you)
表姊 (female cousin, older than you)
biǎo mèi
表妹 (female cousin, younger than you)
表妹 (female cousin, younger than you)
if this cousin is a child of your father's sister(s)
or a child of your mother's brother(s) or sister(s).
Generally, this cousin's family name and yours are different.
or a child of your mother's brother(s) or sister(s).
Generally, this cousin's family name and yours are different.
In summary,
"堂" ＋ 哥／弟／姊／妹
is a child of your father's brother(s).
Generally, this cousin and you have the same family name.
Biao
“表” ＋ 哥／弟／姊／妹is a child of your father's sister(s) or a child of your mother's brother(s) or sister(s)Generally, this cousin's family name and yours are different.
“表” ＋ 哥／弟／姊／妹is a child of your father's sister(s) or a child of your mother's brother(s) or sister(s)Generally, this cousin's family name and yours are different.
Other information:
gē
哥 = older brother
哥 = older brother
dì
弟 = younger brother
弟 = younger brother
zǐ
姊 = older sister
姊 = older sister
mèi
妹 = younger sister
妹 = younger sister
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