妹(いもうと)

いもうと
noun
younger sister
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.

妹(いもうと) means younger sister. Unlike 姉(あね)/兄(あに), the humble/polite distinction is less strict for younger siblings.

FAMILY TERM SYSTEM:

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

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)

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

Related Words

See also: 姉(あね)
See also: 弟(おとうと)
basic
Added 2026.1.7 23:36 · Revised 2026.2.12 8:12
00500/00573_imouto