姉
anenoun★Beginner
informal
older sister
彼女は私の姉です
She is my older sister.
姉は料理が上手です
My older sister is good at cooking.
💡
Used to refer to one's own older sister or someone else's older sister in a familiar context.
Collocations
姉妹sisters姉さんolder sister (more formal)
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
姉妹校phrase
sister school
💡Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal Usage
Use '姉さん' or 'お姉さん' when speaking to or about someone else's older sister to show respect.
⚡Gold Rule
Family Terms
In Japanese, family terms like '姉' are often used to refer to one's own family members or to address others in a familiar context.
📖Word Origin
Composed of the kanji 姉 (older sister) and is a basic family term in Japanese.
📝Usage Notes
When referring to someone else's older sister, it's polite to use 'お姉さん' (o-nee-san).
Word Breakdown
姉
older sister
root和英辞典