お姉(ねえ)さん

おねえさん

noun

older sister; young woman

informalhonorificfamily

1. older sister (honorific)

A polite way to refer to an older sister.

Is your older sister a university student?

お姉(ねえ)さんに借(か)りた。

I borrowed it from my older sister.

お姉(ねえ)さんは先生(せんせい)です。

My older sister is a teacher.

My older sister is married.

I went shopping with my older sister.

I bought a present for my older sister.

2. young woman

Used to address a young woman, similar to 'miss' in English.

お姉(ねえ)さん、これはいくらですか。

Excuse me, miss, how much is this?

Excuse me, miss, could you take a photo for us?

あのお姉(ねえ)さんは親切(しんせつ)だった。

That young woman was kind.

Excuse me, miss, is this seat taken?

Excuse me, miss, does this bus go to the station?

お姉(ねえ)さん is the polite term for 'older sister,' also used to address young women.

USAGE (sense 1, older sister):
Used to refer to someone else's older sister, or when speaking to/about your own sister politely.

USAGE (sense 2, young woman):
Used to address a young woman you don't know (like 'miss').

RELATED WORDS (family terms):

姉(あね): my older sister (humble, when talking to others)
お姉(ねえ)さん: older sister (polite; used for one's own sister in direct address, and for others' sisters)
お姉(ねえ)ちゃん: older sister (casual/affectionate)
姉貴(あねき): older sister (masculine/rough speech)