<p>You could use the terms 兄弟 and 姐妹.</p>

<p>For example, lets say you know 小明 and 小華 are brothers but don't know who is older.  You could then say</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>小明跟小華是兄弟</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-11T14:48:09.517Z
2012-03-11T14:48:09.517Z
Derek Ploor
<p>let me use "<strong>him</strong>" to instead of the "<em>someone</em>", "<strong>other one</strong>" instead of "<em>his family member</em>", than suppose that <strong>other one</strong> is male. ccording to what you say.you must have a good relationship with <strong>him</strong></p>

<p>if <strong>he</strong> haven't introduced <strong>other one</strong> yet, you could ask <strong>him</strong> </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>“他是你弟弟/哥哥？ 他叫什么名字？ 我比他大吗？”</p>
</blockquote>

<p>so than, you could decisively call <strong>other one</strong> "弟弟/哥哥“</p>

<p>unless <strong>other one</strong> is older than you, you can call "哥哥” consequently. otherwise 
if <strong>other one</strong> is younger than you. i think call the first name is better, or the nick name which "<strong>he</strong>" call <strong>other one</strong>. just follow him.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-21T07:17:25.370Z
2012-05-21T07:17:25.370Z
Teifi
<p>There's no rule in a such situation. You can always ask politely or figure out the relationship from conversations.</p>

<p>But there's no harm in assuming they're younger than you or the person introducing you and that family member, especially that relative is a female ;)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-03-11T14:00:30.500Z
2012-03-11T14:00:30.500Z
Georgeee
<p>Is there any way to refer to someones family member, lets say brother, who's relative age I am unaware of and consequently am unable to decisively call 弟弟 or 哥哥?</p>

<p>Is there some sort of rule, like assume they are older?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-24T12:03:34.557Z
Can you provide a typical scenario ?
Derrick Zhang
<ambiguity><kinship>
How do I refer to someone's family member who's relative age I am unsure of?
# How do I refer to someone's family member who's relative age I am unsure of?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-03-11)

Is there any way to refer to someones family member, lets say brother, who's relative age I am unaware of and consequently am unable to decisively call 弟弟 or 哥哥?

Is there some sort of rule, like assume they are older?

**Tags:** ambiguity, kinship

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Can you provide a typical scenario ?  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2012-03-11. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

There's no rule in a such situation. You can always ask politely or figure out the relationship from conversations.

But there's no harm in assuming they're younger than you or the person introducing you and that family member, especially that relative is a female ;)


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### Answer by username_2 on 2012-03-11. Score: 4

You could use the terms 兄弟 and 姐妹.

For example, lets say you know 小明 and 小華 are brothers but don't know who is older. You could then say

> 小明跟小華是兄弟


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### Answer by username_3 on 2012-05-21. Score: 1

let me use "**him**" to instead of the "*someone*", "**other one**" instead of "*his family member*", than suppose that **other one** is male. ccording to what you say.you must have a good relationship with **him**

if **he** haven't introduced **other one** yet, you could ask **him**

> “他是你弟弟/哥哥？ 他叫什么名字？ 我比他大吗？”

so than, you could decisively call **other one** "弟弟/哥哥“

unless **other one** is older than you, you can call "哥哥” consequently. otherwise
if **other one** is younger than you. i think call the first name is better, or the nick name which "**he**" call **other one**. just follow him.


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