お兄さん

• Reading: おにいさん
• Romaji: oniisan
• Kanji breakdown: 兄 (nii/ani) — older brother; お〜さん — honorific address form
• Pronunciation: /o.niː.saɴ/

Meaning

Older brother; elder brother. The polite or familiar term of address.

The honorific form used when addressing your own older brother directly or referring to someone else's older brother. Can also be used casually to address a young man you don't know. Contrasts with 兄, the humble form used when talking about your own brother to outsiders.

Examples

1. お兄さんは何歳ですか。 How old is your older brother?
2. お兄さんに自転車を借りました。 I borrowed a bicycle from my older brother.
3. 山田さんのお兄さんはとても背が高いです。 Yamada's older brother is very tall.

Usage Guide

Context: home life, talking about others' brothers, direct address

Tone: warm

Origin & History

Formed by adding the honorific prefix お to 兄さん (niisan). This honorific pattern is consistent across family terms in Japanese.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo period

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal