兄(あに)

あに

noun

older brother (humble)

1. older brother (my older brother)

Humble term used when referring to one's own older brother when speaking to others outside the family.

兄(あに)は大学生(だいがくせい)です。

My older brother is a university student.

兄(あに)は東京(とうきょう)に住(す)んでいます。

My older brother lives in Tokyo.

兄(あに)は3歳(さい)年上(としうえ)です。

My older brother is 3 years older.

兄(あに)は結婚(けっこん)していて、子供(こども)が二人(ふたり)います。

My older brother is married and has two children.

兄(あに)は医者(いしゃ)になりたくて、毎日(まいにち)遅(おそ)くまで勉強(べんきょう)しています。

My older brother wants to become a doctor, so he studies late every day.

兄(あに) is the humble term for one's own older brother, used when speaking to people outside the family.

FAMILY TERM SYSTEM:

兄(あに): my older brother (humble, to outsiders)
お兄(にい)さん: older brother (polite, someone else's or direct address)
お兄(にい)ちゃん: big bro (casual, within family)
兄貴(あにき): big brother (masculine/informal)

USAGE NOTES:
Within the family, children often call their older brother お兄(にい)ちゃん or by name. 兄(あに) is specifically for describing your brother to others.

RELATED FAMILY TERMS:

姉(あね): my older sister (humble)
弟(おとうと): my younger brother (humble)
妹(いもうと): my younger sister (humble)

The pattern is consistent: plain forms for your own family, お〜さん for others' or polite address.

Related Words

Related: 姉(あね) (older sister (humble))

Related: 弟(おとうと) (younger brother)

Keigo: お兄(にい)さん (honorific)

basic

Added 2026.1.7 23:13 · Revised 2026.5.12 8:16

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