Older brother and sister
Word sets, Stage 1chunk 10 of 15Family
Lets you mention your older siblings and ask about someone else's.
- animy older brother
- oniisanolder brother; young man
- anemy older sister
- oneesanolder sister; young woman
Mix-ups ani and ane are your own; oniisan and oneesan are others', or yours to their face.
ani
polite oniisan
my older brother
Your own older brother when talking to others; someone else's is oniisan.
To his face you say oniichan or his name, never ani.
ani wa ima amerika ni iru
My big brother's in America now.
兄は今アメリカにいる
ani ga hitori imasu
I have one older brother.
兄が一人います
Written 兄 · あに · お兄さんRank #1701 in 3,030 TV dramas
oniisan
older brother; young man
Someone else's older brother, or what you call your own to his face.
Shop staff and strangers also use it to call a young man.
oniisan wa ima nansai?
How old is your brother now?
お兄さんは今何歳？
oniisan wa ima nansai desu ka?
How old is your brother now?
お兄さんは今何歳ですか？
Written お兄さん · おにいさんRank #2038 in 3,030 TV dramas
ane
polite oneesan
my older sister
Your own older sister when talking to others; someone else's is oneesan.
To her face you say oneechan or her name, never ane.
ane ga raigetsu kekkon suru n da
My big sister's getting married next month.
姉が来月結婚するんだ
ane wa kangoshi desu
My older sister is a nurse.
姉は看護師です
Written 姉 · あね · お姉さんRank #2454 in 3,030 TV dramas
oneesan
older sister; young woman
Someone else's older sister, or what you call your own to her face.
Also a friendly way to call a young woman, such as shop staff.
oneesan tte yasashii ne
Your sister's so kind.
お姉さんって優しいね
oneesan wa doko ni sunde imasu ka?
Where does your sister live?
お姉さんはどこに住んでいますか？
Written お姉さん · おねえさんRank #2046 in 3,030 TV dramas