‘小嫂’ (xiǎo sǎo) is a regional, colloquial term meaning ‘younger brother’s wife’. It combines 小 (xiǎo), literally ‘small’ or ‘younger’, and 嫂 (sǎo), which means ‘elder brother’s wife’ but here functions as a general kinship suffix for married women in the husband’s family. Unlike the standard and more widely accepted term 弟妹 (dì mèi), ‘小嫂’ carries a slightly informal or local flavor—common in parts of northern and central China—and may reflect speaker age, familiarity, or dialect influence.

This term emphasizes relational hierarchy and respect within extended families. It’s typically used when speaking directly to or about the younger brother’s wife, especially in face-to-face, warm, or familial settings. While grammatically similar to other kinship terms, it’s not appropriate in formal writing or official contexts. Learners should note that tone and context matter: using ‘小嫂’ with someone unfamiliar or outside its regional usage may sound outdated or overly rustic.