'Tángxiong' literally combines 堂 (táng), meaning 'paternal line' or 'same ancestral hall', and 兄 (xiōng), meaning 'older brother'. It specifically refers to a male cousin who shares the same paternal grandfather — that is, the son of one’s father’s brother. Unlike the broader term 表兄弟 (biǎo xiōngdì), which covers maternal or cross-cousin relationships, 堂兄 strictly denotes kinship through the father’s side.

This term reflects traditional Chinese kinship terminology, where distinctions based on lineage, gender, and relative age are precise and socially significant. It is commonly used in family introductions, formal documents, or when discussing inheritance and clan responsibilities. While younger generations sometimes use more general terms like 表哥 or even just 哥哥 in casual speech, 堂兄 remains standard in official contexts and family trees.