姉

• Reading: あね
• Romaji: ane
• Kanji breakdown: 姉 (ane/shi) — older sister, elder
• Pronunciation: /a.ne/

Meaning

Older sister; elder sister. The humble term for one's own older sister.

Used when talking about your own older sister to others. The honorific form お姉さん is used for someone else's sister or when addressing your own sister directly. Like 兄, this reflects the Japanese system of distinguishing older from younger siblings.

Examples

1. 姉は看護師です。 My older sister is a nurse.
2. 姉にプレゼントをあげました。 I gave a present to my older sister.
3. 私の姉は歌が上手です。 My older sister is good at singing.

Usage Guide

Context: talking about family, self-introduction, daily conversation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 姉 combines 女 (woman) and 市 (phonetic element), indicating the elder female sibling.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal