お兄(にい)さん

おにいさん
noun
older brother (honorific)
informalhonorificfamily
1. older brother (honorific)
A polite way to refer to an older brother.
お兄(にい)さんは何歳(なんさい)ですか。
How old is your older brother?
お兄(にい)さんに聞(き)いてみる。
I'll ask my older brother.
お兄(にい)さんは会社員(かいしゃいん)です。
My older brother is an office worker.
お兄(にい)さんは大学(だいがく)を卒業(そつぎょう)した。
My older brother graduated from university.
お兄(にい)さんと仲(なか)がいい。
I get along well with my older brother.
お兄(にい)さんに似(に)ていますね。
You look like your older brother.
2. young man
Used to address a young man, similar to 'mister' in English.
お兄(にい)さん、道(みち)を教(おし)えてください。
Excuse me, young man, could you tell me the way?
お兄(にい)さん、手伝(てつだ)ってくれませんか。
Excuse me, young man, could you help me?
あのお兄(にい)さんに聞(き)いてみよう。
Let's ask that young man.
お兄(にい)さん、これを落(お)としましたよ。
Excuse me, young man, you dropped this.
お兄(にい)さん、すみません、近(ちか)くにコンビニはありますか。
Excuse me, young man, is there a convenience store nearby?

お兄(にい)さん is the polite term for 'older brother' and can also be used to address young men.

Family term variants

Addressing strangers

Used to address young men you don't know, similar to 'young man' or 'mister' in English. Common when asking for help or getting attention.

Related words

Related Words

Keigo: 兄(あに) (humble)
Related: お姉(ねえ)さん (older sister (polite))
Related: 弟(おとうと) (younger brother)
Related: 妹(いもうと) (younger sister)
Compare: お兄(にい)ちゃん (older brother (affectionate))
Related: 弟(おとうと)さん (younger brother (polite — someone else's))
basic
Added 2026.1.11 18:23 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
02500/02858_oniisan