Definition

1. Noun:
   • Younger adoptive sibling: A person who is younger than the speaker and has been formally or informally adopted into the family. The term is gender-neutral but implies a familial bond through adoption rather than blood. It combines "em" (younger sibling) and "nuôi" (to raise, to foster).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Gia đình tôi rất yêu quý em nuôi của tôi. (My family loves my younger adoptive sibling very much.)
  • Cô ấy nhận một bé gái làm em nuôi. (She took a little girl as her younger adoptive sister.)

Advanced Usage

• The term specifies the adoptive relationship and the relative age. The speaker is always the "anh" (older brother) or "chị" (older sister) in this relationship.
• It is used to refer to the sibling in direct address or in third-person reference.

Variants and Related Words

• Con nuôi (n): Adoptive child. This term specifies the parent-child relationship, not the sibling one.

  • Họ đón đứa bé về làm con nuôi. (They welcomed the baby as their adoptive child.)

• Anh nuôi (n): Older adoptive brother.

  • Anh nuôi của tôi luôn chăm lo cho tôi. (My older adoptive brother always takes care of me.)

• Chị nuôi (n): Older adoptive sister.

  • Chị nuôi dạy tôi nhiều điều. (My older adoptive sister taught me many things.)

Synonyms

• Adoptive younger sibling: The direct English equivalent.
• Foster sibling: May imply a temporary or state-arranged care context, which can overlap with "em nuôi" in some informal usage.

Notes on Meaning

• The term "em nuôi" strictly denotes a sibling-like relationship established through adoption. It is not used for a younger person who is simply cared for without this recognized familial bond.
• The adoption can be legal or a traditional, social agreement within the family or community.

1. Younger adoptive brother (sister)