姪(めい)

姪(めい) means niece — the daughter of one's brother or sister. Japanese does not distinguish between a brother's daughter and a sister's daughter; both are 姪(めい).

Related words

• 姪(めい): niece
• 甥(おい): nephew
• 姪(めい)っ子(こ): niece (casual, affectionate)
• 甥(おい)っ子(こ): nephew (casual, affectionate)

Keigo

For someone else's niece or nephew, use the honorific forms:

• 姪御(めいご)さん: your (or their) niece
• 甥御(おいご)さん: your (or their) nephew

Writing

The kanji 姪(めい) uses the 女(おんな)へん radical. It is not used in other common words, so learners typically encounter it only in this family term.

Usage

In casual speech, 姪(めい)っ子(こ) is more common than 姪(めい) alone, especially when talking affectionately about a young niece.