Shimai can be used when talking about your own or anybody’s sisters, whether they are older or younger. In fact, if you’ve got a sharp eye, you might have already noticed that it is made up of the kanji for older sister (姉) and younger sister (妹)! ShimaiĪlthough kyoudai (兄弟 / きょうだい) is a commonly used word meaning ‘siblings’ in Japanese, shimai (姉妹 / しまい) is substantially feminine. Kare no imoutosan wa doitsu ni sunde imasu. Talking about somebody else’s younger sister My younger sister wants to become a ballet dancer. Watashi no imouto wa bareedansaa ni naritai desu. It is rude to refer to an acquaintance’s younger sister by imouto only. The suffix -san is added to make it more polite. Meanwhile, imoutosan (妹さん / いもうとさん) is used when speaking about somebody else’s younger sister. Because of this, it is unnecessary to call your little sister imouto, unlike the case with oneesan for older sisters or oniisan for older brothers. In Japan, younger siblings are usually addressed by their names when speaking directly to them. This can be used around friends, peers, or anybody outside your family. Normally, you would use this when talking about your own younger sister. The standard Japanese word for younger or little sister is imouto (妹 / いもうと). Kyonen watashi no ane wa sotsugyou shimashita. Ane can also be seen in written correspondences or articles referring to older sisters in general. It is a polite form typically used by adults. AneĪne (姉 / あね)is a Japanese word used when talking about your own older sister to other people, like friends or superiors. Some individuals use this word to refer to young ladies, such as the friendly female guard at the train station or a waitress. This can be used in formal conferences or celebrations to talk about somebody’s older sister.Īdditionally, oneesan can also be used with female outsiders or people who are not part of your family. Oneesama (お姉様 / おねえさま) is a very polite way to address someone. ( -chan is a more affectionate Japanese honorific than the standard -san.) When younger siblings grow older, they usually switch to oneesan. Little children typically address their older sisters by oneechan (お姉ちゃん / おねえちゃん) and neechan (姉ちゃん / ねえちゃん) up until they turn 10 years old or so. If you are a younger sibling, it is uncommon to refer to older sisters by their given name, unlike in the West. Suzuki’s older sister goes to the pool to swim every morning.Įven among family members, hierarchy is an important thing in Japan. Suzuki-san no oneesan wa mai asa puru de suiei shiteimasu. This is also the proper word to use when talking about anyone’s older sister, including your own. Oneesan is used when speaking directly to your own older sister or somebody else’s. This Japanese word for sister is one of the most widely-used terms.
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