姉 妹(しまい)

しまい

noun

sisters

1. sisters

Female siblings; two or more sisters.

彼女(かのじょ)には姉妹(しまい)が二人(ふたり)いる。

She has two sisters.

この姉妹(しまい)はとても仲(なか)が良(よ)い。

These sisters get along very well.

姉妹(しまい)で旅行(りょこう)に行(い)くのは初(はじ)めてで、楽(たの)しみにしている。

It's our first time traveling together as sisters, and we're looking forward to it.

東京(とうきょう)とパリ(ぱり)は姉妹(しまい)都市(とし)だ。文化(ぶんか)交流(こうりゅう)が盛(さか)んに行(おこな)われている。

Tokyo and Paris are sister cities. Cultural exchanges are actively carried out between them.

姉妹都市 = sister city

Having grown up as the youngest of three sisters, she always used to follow after her older sisters. Now they have a relationship of supporting each other.

姉妹(しまい) specifically refers to female siblings (sisters).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

姉妹(しまい)都市(とし) (sister city)
姉妹(しまい)校(こう) (sister school)
姉妹(しまい)会社(かいしゃ) (sister company)
双子(ふたご)の姉妹(しまい) (twin sisters)

RELATED TERMS:

兄弟(きょうだい): brothers; also used for "siblings" in general
兄弟(きょうだい)姉妹(しまい): siblings (gender-neutral, formal)

USAGE NOTE:
Unlike English "siblings," Japanese traditionally uses 兄弟(きょうだい) for brothers or mixed-gender siblings and 姉妹(しまい) specifically for sisters. However, 兄弟(きょうだい) is often used broadly to mean "siblings."

Related Words

Related: 兄弟(きょうだい) (brothers, siblings)

core

Added 2026.1.11 22:40 · Revised 2026.5.24 23:16

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