'Sǎo·zi' is a respectful and affectionate term used to address or refer to one’s older brother’s wife. The character 嫂 (sǎo) originally means 'elder brother’s wife' and carries connotations of seniority and familial role, while 子 (zi) is a common nominal suffix that adds a gentle, colloquial tone—similar to how it appears in words like 妹子 (mèi·zi, 'younger sister') or 师傅 (shī·fu, 'master'). Together, they form a warm, kinship-based title rather than a literal description.

This term is used both directly (as a form of address, like 'Hello, Sǎo·zi!') and indirectly (in third-person reference, e.g., 'My sǎo·zi made dumplings'). It reflects Chinese cultural emphasis on relational hierarchy and respect for marital ties within the extended family. While primarily used in spoken language and informal writing, it is never used for younger brothers’ wives—that would be 弟妹 (dì·mèi). It may also be extended socially to show respect toward older married women close to the family, though this depends on context and closeness.