義姉(ぎし)

ぎし
noun
older sister-in-law; older stepsister
See also: 技師(ぎし) (engineer (homophone))
1. older sister-in-law; older stepsister
A woman who is one's spouse's older sister, or one's older stepsister through a parent's remarriage. A formal term used in legal and written contexts.
義姉(ぎし)は東京(とうきょう)に住(す)んでいる。
My sister-in-law lives in Tokyo.
義姉(ぎし)とは結婚(けっこん)以来(いらい)ずっと仲(なか)がいい。
I've been on good terms with my sister-in-law ever since we married.
義姉(ぎし)が出産(しゅっさん)したので、お祝(いわ)いを贈(おく)った。
My sister-in-law gave birth, so I sent a gift to celebrate.

USAGE:
義姉(ぎし) is the formal/written form. In speech, 義理(ぎり)の姉(あね) or お義姉(ねえ)さん are more natural. The character 義(ぎ) indicates a relationship through marriage rather than blood.

RELATED FAMILY TERMS:

  • 義妹(ぎまい): younger sister-in-law
  • 義兄(ぎけい): older brother-in-law
  • 義弟(ぎてい): younger brother-in-law
  • 義理(ぎり)の姉(あね): sister-in-law (conversational form)

NOTE:
Also read as ぎし in compounds. In casual speech, people may say お義姉(ねえ)さん to address their sister-in-law directly.

Related Words

Homophone: 技師(ぎし) (engineer)
general
Added 2026.3.19 13:26
17500/17835_gishi