妹

• Reading: いもうと
• Romaji: imouto
• Kanji breakdown: 妹 (imouto/mai) — younger sister; 女 (onna) — woman; 未 (mi) — not yet
• Pronunciation: /i.moː.to/

Meaning

Younger sister. The standard term for one's own younger sister.

Used when talking about your own younger sister to others. The polite form 妹さん is used for someone else's younger sister. In Japanese culture, the seniority distinction among siblings is important and always reflected in the vocabulary used.

Examples

1. 妹は小学生です。 My younger sister is an elementary school student.
2. 妹に日本語を教えています。 I am teaching Japanese to my younger sister.
3. 妹は猫が大好きです。 My younger sister loves cats.

Usage Guide

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

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 妹 combines 女 (woman) and 未 (not yet), suggesting a woman who has not yet matured — the younger female sibling.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal