お姉(ねえ)さん

おねえさん
noun
older sister (honorific)
informalhonorificfamily
1. older sister (honorific)
A polite way to refer to an older sister.
お姉(ねえ)さんは大学生(だいがくせい)ですか。
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.
お姉(ねえ)さんは結婚(けっこん)している。
My older sister is married.
お姉(ねえ)さんと買(か)い物(もの)に行(い)った。
I went shopping with my older sister.
お姉(ねえ)さんにプレゼントを買(か)った。
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?
お姉(ねえ)さん、写真(しゃしん)を撮(と)ってもらえますか。
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.
お姉(ねえ)さん、席(せき)は空(あ)いていますか。
Excuse me, miss, is this seat taken?
お姉(ねえ)さん、すみません、このバスは駅(えき)に行(い)きますか。
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.

Sense 1 - older sister

Used to refer to someone else's older sister, or when speaking to/about your own sister politely.

Sense 2 - young woman

Used to address a young woman you don't know (like 'miss').

Family term system

  • 姉(あね): my older sister (humble, when talking to others)
  • お姉(ねえ)さん: older sister (polite, for others' sisters)
  • お姉(ねえ)ちゃん: older sister (casual/affectionate)
  • 姉貴(あねき): older sister (masculine/rough speech)

Contrast with younger sister

Usage

Children often call their own older sister お姉(ねえ)ちゃん or お姉(ねえ)さん directly.

Related Words

Keigo: 姉(あね) (humble)
Related: お兄(にい)さん (older brother (polite))
Compare: 妹(いもうと) (my younger sister)
Compare: 妹(いもうと)さん (younger sister)
Compare: お姉(ねえ)ちゃん (older sister (informal))
basic
Added 2026.1.11 18:24 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
02500/02859_oneesan