No, it’s not the author of Jujutsu Kaisen.
Summary:
- The relationship between Xie Lian and Hua Cheng is a big part of the series.
- Hua Cheng often calls Xie Lian “gege.”
- This word can have several meanings.
Heaven Official's Blessing (Tian Guan Cifu) is a Chinese anime that follows a formerly beloved god, Xie Lian, and the Ghost King, Hua Cheng.
The relationship between these two has always been the heart of the series. No matter what’s happening around them, at the end of the day Xie Lian and Hua Cheng are the only ones who matter.
Heaven Official's Blessing is originally a BL novel series written by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, so you can see where we’re going with this and why the interactions between the main leads matter so much.
He Calls Him “Gege”
One peculiar detail about Xie Lian and Hua Cheng’s interactions is that the latter always calls the former “gege,” which is a Chinese word.
It’s usually translated as “brother” in subs and in the dub, that’s why some fans are a bit confused: are these two so close they’re like brothers, or is there something more going on between them after all?
“Gege” does mean “an older brother,” but this is not the only way this word can be used. Chinese people can use this word not only to refer to their male siblings, but also to any other older family member or just their male friends.
This word has an endearing meaning, it’s not something you’d call a person you don’t know and don’t care about, only the one you like or respect. It can be used both in a platonic way or in a romantic one. “Gege” can also be used when you’re trying to flirt with someone.
Context Matters
“Gege” is a term of endearment used among men, and you can form other meaning with the use of the 哥 (ge) hieroglyph.
For example, there’s 哥们儿 (gemener) which is something like the English “bro” that men can sometimes use to address their close friends. And also just like “bro,” it can be used sarcastically when you’re speaking with someone you don’t like.
Going back to “gege” itself, the meaning of the word can highly depend on the context. It can mean just a warm feeling or even a romantic one.
When Hua Cheng calls Xie Lian this word, he shows how cheeky he actually is. He wants to annoy other heaven officials by calling Xie Lian this way instead of saying his name. But “gege” still shows respect because it’s a way to talk to someone who’s older than you.