お兄(にい)ちゃん

おにいちゃん
noun
older brother (affectionate); big bro
informalfamily
1. older brother (affectionate, casual)
An affectionate and casual way to address or refer to one's older brother.
お兄(にい)ちゃん、遊(あそ)ぼう。
Big bro, let's play.
お兄(にい)ちゃんは今(いま)大学(だいがく)に通(かよ)っている。
My big brother is going to college now.
お兄(にい)ちゃんがいると心強(こころづよ)い。
Having a big brother is reassuring.
2. young man; big brother (to a stranger)
Used by children to address an unfamiliar young man in a friendly way.
お兄(にい)ちゃん、風船(ふうせん)とって。
Mister, get my balloon for me.
知(し)らない子(こ)にお兄(にい)ちゃんと呼(よ)ばれた。
A child I didn't know called me 'big brother.'
公園(こうえん)で小(ちい)さい子(こ)に「お兄(にい)ちゃん、一緒(いっしょ)にサッカーしよう」と言(い)われた。
A little kid at the park said to me, 'Hey mister, let's play soccer together.'

The most casual and affectionate way to say "older brother." Primarily used by younger siblings, especially children. The お prefix and ちゃん suffix together create a warm, familiar tone.

Formality levels

  • お兄(にい)ちゃん: casual, affectionate (children and close family)
  • お兄(にい)さん: standard polite form
  • 兄(あに): humble form used when speaking about one's own brother to outsiders
  • 兄貴(あにき): informal, used among young men; sometimes used toward non-family

Common collocations

  • お兄(にい)ちゃんっ子(こ): a child who adores their older brother
  • お兄(にい)ちゃん大好(だいす)き: I love my big brother

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: お兄(にい)さん (older brother)
Related: 兄(あに) (older brother)
Compare: お姉(ねえ)ちゃん (older sister)
general
Added 2026.4.8 1:38 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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