妹(いもうと)

いもうと
noun
younger sister
family
1. younger sister
A female sibling who is younger than oneself. Used for both one's own younger sister and others' younger sisters.
妹(いもうと)は中学生(ちゅうがくせい)です。
My younger sister is a middle school student.
妹(いもうと)に日本語(にほんご)を教(おし)えています。
I'm teaching Japanese to my younger sister.
妹(いもうと)はとても可愛(かわい)いです。
My younger sister is very cute.
妹(いもうと)は今年(ことし)大学(だいがく)に入(はい)りました。医者(いしゃ)になりたいそうです。
My younger sister entered university this year. She says she wants to become a doctor.
妹(いもうと)が生(う)まれた時(とき)、私(わたし)は五歳(ごさい)でした。最初(さいしょ)は嬉(うれ)しくなかったけど、今(いま)は仲(なか)がいいです。
When my younger sister was born, I was five years old. At first I wasn't happy about it, but now we get along well.

Usage

Younger siblings are addressed by name, not by the kinship word; 妹(いもうと) is for talking about them.

  • 妹(いもうと): younger sister (your own or general)
  • 妹(いもうと)さん: younger sister (polite, someone else's)

義妹(ぎまい) or 義理(ぎり)の妹(いもうと) means 'sister-in-law' (younger).

Common patterns

  • 妹(いもうと)がいる: to have a younger sister
  • 妹(いもうと)みたいに: like a younger sister
  • 妹(いもうと)分(ぶん): someone like a younger sister (figurative)

Related words

Related Words

Related: 姉(あね) (older sister (humble))
Related: 弟(おとうと) (younger brother)
Related: 兄(あに) (older brother (humble))
Related: お兄(にい)さん (older brother (honorific))
Compare: お姉(ねえ)さん (older sister (honorific))
Related: 弟(おとうと)さん (younger brother)
basic
Added 2026.1.7 23:36 · Revised 2026.10.5 5:08
00500/00573_imouto