義兄(ぎけい)

ぎけい
noun
brother-in-law (older)
formalwrittenfamily
1. older brother-in-law; stepbrother (older)
A male relative who is like an older brother but not by blood — typically a spouse's older brother, or a stepbrother who is older. Composed of 義 (righteousness/adopted) + 兄 (older brother). A formal term used in writing and official contexts.
義兄(ぎけい)は医者(いしゃ)をしている。
My brother-in-law is a doctor.
結婚式(けっこんしき)で義兄(ぎけい)にスピーチを頼(たの)まれた。
I was asked by my brother-in-law to give a speech at the wedding.
義兄(ぎけい)とは年(とし)が近(ちか)いので、子供(こども)の頃(ころ)からよく一緒(いっしょ)に遊(あそ)んでいた。
Since my stepbrother and I are close in age, we often played together growing up.

Usage

義兄(ぎけい) is a formal, written term. In everyday conversation, people typically say お義兄(にい)さん or 義理(ぎり)の兄(あに). The 義(ぎ) prefix indicates a family relationship by marriage or adoption rather than by blood.

Related words

The spoken form お義兄(にい)さん uses the kun'yomi reading and is warmer and more familiar.

Related Words

Related: 義弟(ぎてい) (brother-in-law (younger))
Related: 義姉(ぎし) (sister-in-law (older))
Related: 義妹(ぎまい) (sister-in-law (younger))
Related: 義父(ぎふ) (father-in-law)
Related: 義母(ぎぼ) (mother-in-law)
general
Added 2026.3.8 18:44 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
15500/15784_gikei