きょうだい

kyōdai

siblings

きょうだいは三人です。

I have three siblings.

formal

A collective term for brothers and sisters, including both full siblings (sharing both parents) and half-siblings (sharing one parent).

私にはきょうだいが二人います。

I have two siblings.

きょうだいとよく遊びます。

I often play with my siblings.

In Japanese, 'きょうだい' can refer to both full siblings and half-siblings, though the context may clarify the relationship.

Collocations

きょうだいとwith siblingsきょうだいの数number of siblings

Synonyms

兄弟姉妹

Related Phrases

きょうだいげんかphrase

sibling rivalry

Pro Tip

Gender-Neutral Term

'きょうだい' is a gender-neutral term that includes both brothers and sisters. If you want to specify, use '兄弟' for brothers and '姉妹' for sisters.

Gold Rule

Plural Usage

Unlike English, 'きょうだい' is always plural. There is no singular form in Japanese.

Word Origin

Derived from the Middle Chinese word '兄弟' (xiōngdì), which combines '兄' (older brother) and '弟' (younger brother). The term was later extended to include sisters as well.

Usage Notes

While 'きょうだい' is the most common term for siblings, '兄弟' (kyōdai) can sometimes be used to refer specifically to brothers, and '姉妹' (shimai) to sisters. However, in modern usage, 'きょうだい' is the most neutral and inclusive term.

Word Breakdown

兄

older brother

root

弟

younger brother

root

和英辞典

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