HSK Guide

小姐 xiǎojiěMiss, young lady

xiǎojiě (third tone, dipping)xiao3jie3

Miss, young lady

HSK 1· HSK 1–4 (classic)nounMeasure word Measure word
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Meanings

  1. Miss, young lady

    A polite title for a young woman, placed after the surname (王小姐) or used alone. It is the counterpart of 先生.

    noun

In mainland China 小姐 used on its own to hail a stranger now sounds risky, because it has acquired a second, disreputable sense. 王小姐 after a surname stays perfectly polite, and service staff are addressed as 服务员.

Character breakdown

  • xiǎo (third tone, dipping)

    small, little; young, junior

    3 strokesRadical
  • jiě (third tone, dipping)

    elder sister; a young woman (in 小姐)

    8 strokes⿰女且Radical

Example sentences

  • 小姐,请问这个多少钱?小姐,請問這個多少錢?Xiǎojiě, (third tone, dipping) qǐngwèn (third tone, dipping) zhège (fourth tone, falling) duōshao (first tone, high and level) qián? (second tone, rising)···

    Excuse me, miss — how much is this?

  • 小姐,你好,请坐。小姐,你好,請坐。Xiǎojiě, (third tone, dipping) (third tone, dipping) hǎo, (third tone, dipping) qǐng (third tone, dipping) zuò. (fourth tone, falling)···

    Good afternoon, miss — please take a seat.