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A female sibling who is older than the speaker or another reference point.
姉と弟はよくケンカします。
The older sister and younger brother often fight.
In Japanese family terminology, 姉 refers specifically to an older sister, while 姉妹 (shimai) refers to sisters in general.
姉 is used specifically for an older sister, while 妹 (imōto) refers to a younger sister. The term can also be used respectfully for older women in certain contexts.
Japanese family terms often depend on the speaker's age and relationship to the person being referred to. 姉 is used when the speaker is younger than the sister being referred to.
From Middle Chinese 'zǐ' (子) meaning 'child' and 'jiě' (姐) meaning 'older sister'. The kanji 姉 combines 女 (woman) and 子 (child).
In formal contexts, 姉妹 (shimai) is often used to refer to sisters in general, while 姉 specifically refers to an older sister. The term can also be used respectfully to address an older female relative or friend.