姪(めい)

めい
noun
niece
1. niece
The daughter of one's sibling.
姪(めい)は今年(ことし)小学校(しょうがっこう)に入学(にゅうがく)する。
My niece is starting elementary school this year.
姪(めい)っ子(こ)が遊(あそ)びに来(き)た。
My niece came to visit.
姪(めい)の誕生日(たんじょうび)プレゼントを買(か)った。
I bought a birthday present for my niece.
姪(めい)は来年(らいねん)中学生(ちゅうがくせい)になる。
My niece will become a middle school student next year.
姉(あね)の姪(めい)っ子(こ)が夏休(なつやす)みに泊(と)まりに来(く)るので、部屋(へや)を片付(かたづ)けなくてはいけない。
My sister's daughter is coming to stay during summer vacation, so I need to tidy up the room.

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).

FAMILY TERMS:

  • 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)

POLITE FORMS:

When referring to someone else's niece or nephew, add お〜さん:

  • お姪(めい)さん: your niece
  • お甥(おい)さん: your nephew

KANJI:
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.

Related Words

Related: 甥(おい) (nephew)
core
Added 2026.1.13 10:47 · Revised 2026.3.29 19:42
03500/03899_mei