jiějie
Also written: jiejie; jie jie; 姊姊; older sister
A Mandarin kinship and address term for an older sister or an older female of the same generation, also used affectionately or politely beyond literal family.
Literal meaning
older sister
Cultural context
Chinese kinship terms often extend into social relationships. Jiějie can establish relative age, warmth, familiarity, chosen-sister closeness, or a respectful and friendly way of addressing a somewhat older woman.
How dramas use it
Characters use jiějie among sisters, cousins, friends, attendants, neighbors, and found-family relationships. In some romances, the term can carry teasing or flirtation, but that meaning must come from context.
Usage & formality
The second syllable is usually neutral in ordinary speech: jiějie. The traditional variant 姊姊 is also used, especially in Taiwan. It does not automatically imply biological family.