兄

• Reading: あに
• Romaji: ani
• Kanji breakdown: 兄 (ani/kei/kyou) — older brother, elder
• Pronunciation: /a.ni/

Meaning

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

Used when talking about your own older brother to others. The honorific form お兄さん is used for someone else's brother or when addressing your own brother directly. Japanese distinguishes between older and younger siblings, unlike English where 'brother' covers both.

Examples

1. 兄は大学生です。 My older brother is a college student.
2. 兄と一緒にサッカーをします。 I play soccer with my older brother.
3. 私の兄は東京に住んでいます。 My older brother lives in Tokyo.

Usage Guide

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

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 兄 shows a person (儿) with a mouth (口) on top, representing the one who speaks with authority — the elder sibling.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal