妹

imōto
noun★Beginner— younger sister
formalinformal

A female sibling who is younger than oneself

妹が大学に合格しました

My younger sister got accepted into university.

💡

In Japanese family terms, '妹' specifically refers to a younger sister. The term for an older sister is '姉' (ane).

Collocations

妹思いbeing devoted to one's younger sister妹の友達my younger sister's friend

Antonyms

Related Phrases

妹がいるphrase
I have a younger sister
妹思いの兄phrase
a brother who dotes on his younger sister

💡Pro Tip

Family Terms

Remember that '妹' is specifically for younger sisters. For older sisters, use '姉' (ane).

⚡Gold Rule

Gender-Specific

The term '妹' is exclusively used for female siblings. For male siblings, use '弟' (younger brother) or '兄' (older brother).

📖Word Origin

The kanji '妹' consists of '女' (woman) and '未' (not yet), originally meaning 'young woman' or 'unmarried woman'. Over time, it came to specifically refer to a younger sister.

📝Usage Notes

In formal contexts, '妹さん' or '妹ちゃん' may be used as honorific forms. '妹' is commonly used in everyday conversation.

Word Breakdown

女
woman
root
+
未
not yet
root
和英辞典