哥 is a Chinese character with HSK 1 on the new exam.
Etymology
Oracle-bone origin
哥 is a late phono-semantic compound not attested in oracle bones. It is composed of two 可 (kě) stacked vertically, where 可 provides the phonetic value. The character was originally a variant writing of 歌 (gē, 'to sing'), with 可 itself depicting a mouth 口 beside a curved shape often read as a carpenter's square.
Form evolution
Because 哥 postdates oracle-bone and bronze script, its earliest stable forms appear in seal script as two stacked 可 components. Clerical script flattened the curved strokes of each 可 into straight horizontals and a hooked vertical. The modern 楷书 form is a near-direct regularisation of the clerical shape with no further structural change.
How the meaning evolved
In classical texts through the Han dynasty 哥 was read as a synonym for 歌 (to sing). The 'elder brother' meaning is a Tang-era borrowing, likely entering Chinese through contact with Inner Asian languages where a similar syllable meant older male relative. The original 'sing' sense was then permanently displaced into the character 歌, which adds 欠 (a person with mouth open).
Cultural note
The kinship meaning is so dominant today that learners are often surprised 哥 and 歌 share a root. The doubled 可 is also a reminder that component repetition in Chinese frequently signals an earlier phonetic role rather than an intensified meaning.
Basic info
Example sentences
我哥哥比我大。
Wǒ gēge bǐ wǒ dà.
My older brother is older than me.
From 哥哥 (HSK 1)
Words containing 哥
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 哥哥 | gēge | older brother | HSK 1 |
On the new HSK 1 exam
Studying for HSK 1? Keep 哥 with the rest of your level.
HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.
Frequently Asked Questions
Appears in these articles
- Beginner Chinese Vocabulary: The First 200 Words to Learn
- Chinese 1 Vocabulary List: Essential Words for Your First Year
- Chinese Family Words: Every Relationship Term Explained (With Chart)
- Chinese Vocabulary Learning Hub: Master Chinese Words
- Chinese Vocabulary Learning: Complete Guide to Mastering Chinese Words
Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.