HSK 3.0 · LEVEL 1
哥哥
Older brother (commonly used to address an elder brother or a slightly older male peer).
Free Chinese vocabulary flashcard · HSK 1
Why does 哥哥 look like this?
The character consists of two identical parts stacked vertically. Each part is '可' (kě), which originally meant 'to permit' or 'to sing.' In this character, it acts as a phonetic component. Historically, it looks like a person with a wide-open mouth, perhaps shouting or calling out. Doubling it creates '哥', used specifically to denote an elder brother!