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Thread: How do you address your brothers or sisters?

  1. #1
    thincat is offline Junior Member
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    Default How do you address your brothers or sisters?

    Hello everyone,

    In Chinese culture, people sometimes address their siblings with reference to their relationship, such as "big brother," "third sister," "little sister," "Brother Tou" etc. May I know, in western culture, what are the ways people use to call their siblings?

    Thank you!

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    5jj
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    Default Re: How do you address your brothers or sisters?

    Some families may use nicknames and terms of endearment, but I think that most of use just use our sibling's name,
    Context is important. Please provide enough for us to be able to deal effectively with your question.
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    thincat is offline Junior Member
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    Default Re: How do you address your brothers or sisters?

    Thank you! How about when you are introducing your brothers or sisters to others, it is possible to tell a more precise relationship like "second eldest brother" (I do not know if it is the correct term to indicate family relationship in English) in a natural manner?

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    Rover_KE is offline Moderator
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    Default Re: How do you address your brothers or sisters?

    When introduced to somebody's siblings, most of us don't care about their position in the family.

    I wouldn't be sure what you meant by 'second eldest brother' but as an only child (child!) what do I know?

    Rover
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    Default Re: How do you address your brothers or sisters?

    We only specify the placement in the family if it's necessary or if we simply wish to give that information to someone.

    Sarah, my younger sister, is blonde. We're not sure how because I'm a brunette and so are Jane and Susan, my older sisters.
    My big brother is going to Egypt tomorrow. (This suggests you have more than one brother.)
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