mèimei
Also written: meimei; mei mei; younger sister
A Mandarin kinship and reference term for a younger sister or a younger female of the same generation; it may also be used socially for a younger woman.
Literal meaning
younger sister
Cultural context
Mèimei can express sisterhood, affection, protectiveness, hierarchy, teasing, or strategic familiarity. In historical dramas, women of similar rank may also use sister terms to structure relationships that are not biological.
How dramas use it
Characters may use mèimei for siblings, cousins, close friends, junior women, or a younger romantic interest. Palace and household dramas sometimes use sister language politely while the women remain rivals.
Usage & formality
The second syllable is usually neutral in ordinary speech. The word can sound warm, patronizing, formalized, or false depending on who says it and why.