Definition

1. Noun:
   • Younger brother: A male sibling who is younger than the speaker or the person being referred to. This is the most common and specific meaning.
   • Younger male relative/cousin: Can be used to refer to a younger male cousin or a younger male relative within the same generation, showing affection and closeness.
   • Term of endearment for a younger male: Sometimes used by an older person to address a younger male friend or acquaintance in a friendly, affectionate, or familiar way, even without a familial relationship.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Tôi có một em trai. (I have a younger brother.)
  • Em trai tôi năm nay 10 tuổi. (My younger brother is 10 years old this year.)
  • Chào em trai, khỏe không? (Hello there, young man/bro, how are you?) [Used as a friendly greeting to a younger male].

Advanced Usage

• "Em trai họ": Refers specifically to a younger male cousin.

  • Anh ấy là em trai họ của tôi. (He is my younger male cousin.)

• "Em trai nuôi": Refers to an adopted younger brother or a younger male treated like a brother.

  • Cậu bé đó là em trai nuôi của gia đình tôi. (That boy is the adopted younger brother of my family.)

Variants and Related Words

• Em gái (n): Younger sister.

  • Tôi có một em gái. (I have a younger sister.)

• Anh trai (n): Older brother.

  • Anh trai tôi là bác sĩ. (My older brother is a doctor.)

• Em (n): A versatile term meaning younger sibling (gender-neutral in some contexts), or "you" (when addressing someone younger or of equal status with affection).

  • Em tôi rất ngoan. (My younger sibling is very well-behaved.)
  • Em có khỏe không? (How are you? [to a younger person or a loved one]).

Synonyms

• Em út (n): The youngest sibling (can be brother or sister). Often implies being the baby of the family.
  • Nó là em út trong nhà. (He/She is the youngest in the family.)

Related Phrases

• "Làm anh/ làm chị": To act like an older brother/sister; to take care of someone younger.
  • Cô ấy luôn biết cách làm chị với các em trai. (She always knows how to be a good older sister to her younger brothers.)

Related Idioms

• "Máu mặt anh em": Brotherhood/sibling solidarity; the pride and bond between brothers/siblings.
  • Họ giúp đỡ nhau vì máu mặt anh em. (They help each other because of brotherly solidarity.)