brother
brother — noun
1. a male child or adult in your family, born to the same two parents as you or sha
a male child or adult in your family, born to the same two parents as you or sharing one parent with you
My older brother fixed my bike before school started.
older brother in a family context
When Aiko moved to Osaka, her brother called every Sunday night.
brother as family member
The twins look alike, but Hana's brother is two minutes older.
At the wedding, my little brother carried the rings carefully.
Nadia's baby brother fell asleep in the cart at the market.
- sibling
gender-neutral and more formal; it can mean a brother or a sister
- half brother
narrower; used when you share only one parent
- stepbrother
used for a brother gained through a parent's new marriage, not by birth
文法句型
older brother
younger brother
big brother
little brother
用法筆記
Most often used with family words such as 'older', 'younger', 'big', or 'little'. When the relationship is not from the same two parents, English often makes that clear with words like 'half brother' or 'stepbrother'.
常見錯誤
2. a man linked to your group, movement, or shared beliefs, often addressed as brot
a man linked to your group, movement, or shared beliefs, often addressed as brother within it
At the union hall, older workers called each other brother.
call each other brother in a group
During the march, another brother from the housing group handed Ravi a bottle of water.
brother for a man in the same movement
The fraternity brothers cleaned the house before new students arrived.
Before the union meeting, Brother Omar checked names and waved the new drivers inside.
- comrade
often sounds political or strongly tied to a shared cause
- fellow member
clear and neutral, but less warm and less personal
- brother-in-arms
narrower; stresses struggle or hardship faced together
- outsider
someone not included in the group
文法句型
call someone brother
brothers in the union
fraternity brothers
Brother + name in a group
用法筆記
Usually tied to a shared group identity such as a union, fraternity, movement, or religious community. Distinguish from noun/1: this sense is about belonging together, not about family.
常見錯誤
3. used by some Black men when speaking to or about another Black man
used by some Black men when speaking to or about another Black man
After the game, an older Black man said, 'Good job, brother.'
direct address: brother
At the Black church picnic, one brother saved Marcus a seat by the grill.
brother in a Black community setting
On stage, the singer thanked every brother who came out for the block party.
In the film, two Black men call each other brother outside the shop.
文法句型
say brother to someone
call another man brother
用法筆記
Common as a direct form of address or a warm reference inside Black communities. Learners should treat it as community-specific rather than as a neutral everyday substitute for 'man' or for noun/1.
4. a title placed before a man's name in some religious communities, especially for
a title placed before a man's name in some religious communities, especially for a monk or another male member
Brother Thomas opened the chapel doors before sunrise.
title: Brother + name
After class, the children thanked the brother who taught music at the village school.
the brother + role in a religious community
After dinner, the young brother washed plates in the monastery kitchen.
Visitors asked Brother Paolo for directions to the quiet garden.
文法句型
Brother + name
the brother at the monastery
brother in a religious order
用法筆記
Placed before a name or used as a title inside a religious order. Distinguish from noun/2: noun/2 can refer to many kinds of groups, but this sense is specifically tied to religious life.