表妹 (biǎomèi): younger female cousin (on the m…

Measure Word

一个表妹 gè

Meanings

1 younger female cousin (on the maternal side, or father's sister's side)
2 younger female cousin with a different surname

Characters

表

biǎo

surface; outside; maternal side of the family

妹

mèi

younger sister

Maternal-side + younger sister - a younger female cousin on the mother's side or from a different-surnamed uncle.

Examples

HSK 1

我表妹今年考上了大学。

Wǒ biǎomèi jīnnián kǎoshàng le dàxué.

My younger cousin got into university this year.

HSK 2

我和表妹一起长大的。

Wǒ hé biǎomèi yīqǐ zhǎngdà de.

My younger cousin and I grew up together.

HSK 5

表妹从小就很聪明。

Biǎomèi cóngxiǎo jiù hěn cōngming.

My younger cousin has been smart since she was little.

Tips

usage

Chinese has specific terms for every type of cousin. 表 cousins have different surnames (mother's side, father's sister's side). 堂 cousins share the same surname (father's brother's side). 妹 means younger, 姐 means older.

culture

The full set of female cousin terms: 表姐 (older, different surname), 表妹 (younger, different surname), 堂姐 (older, same surname), 堂妹 (younger, same surname). This system reflects the importance of family lineage in Chinese culture.