弟(おとうと)

おとうと
noun
younger brother
1. younger brother
A male sibling who is younger than oneself. Used for both one's own younger brother and others' younger brothers.
弟(おとうと)は高校生(こうこうせい)です。
My younger brother is a high school student.
弟(おとうと)と一緒(いっしょ)に遊(あそ)びました。
I played with my younger brother.
弟(おとうと)は私(わたし)より5歳(さい)年下(としした)です。
My younger brother is 5 years younger than me.
弟(おとうと)は毎日(まいにち)サッカーの練習(れんしゅう)をしています。将来(しょうらい)、プロになりたいそうです。
My younger brother practices soccer every day. He says he wants to become a pro in the future.
弟(おとうと)が小(ちい)さい時(とき)、私(わたし)がよく面倒(めんどう)を見(み)ていました。今(いま)では弟(おとうと)の方(ほう)が背(せ)が高(たか)いです。
When my younger brother was small, I often took care of him. Now he's taller than me.

弟(おとうと) means younger brother. Unlike 兄(あに)/姉(あね), the humble/polite distinction is less strict for younger siblings.

FAMILY TERM SYSTEM:

  • 弟(おとうと): younger brother (your own or general)
  • 弟(おとうと)さん: younger brother (polite, someone else's)

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 弟(おとうと)がいる: to have a younger brother
  • 弟(おとうと)みたいに: like a younger brother
  • 弟(おとうと)分(ぶん): someone like a younger brother (figurative)

FAMILY TERMS (complete set):

  • 兄(あに)/お兄(にい)さん: older brother
  • 姉(あね)/お姉(ねえ)さん: older sister
  • 弟(おとうと)/弟(おとうと)さん: younger brother
  • 妹(いもうと)/妹(いもうと)さん: younger sister

NOTE:
義弟(ぎてい) or 義理(ぎり)の弟(おとうと) means 'brother-in-law' (younger).

Related Words

See also: 兄(あに)
See also: 妹(いもうと)
basic
Added 2026.1.7 23:51 · Revised 2026.2.11 18:49
00500/00572_otouto