answersLogoWhite

0

How do you say brothers in Japanese?

User Avatar

Anonymous

14y ago
Updated: 8/16/2019

There are many ways to say brother. Let me see if I can get most of the common ones...

First of all, "nii" is essentially the word for older brother. However, it's rarely used alone except sometimes as a very friendly suffix to a name. Now...

oniisan = Honorific term for an older brother.

oniichan = Familiar term for an older brother.

anii = Humble term for an older brother.

Occasionally, the "o" is left off the first two, making it either "niisan" or "niichan".

Younger brothers aren't usually referred to as brother, I don't think... but the way to say it is "oto" or "ototo". "Gutei" is also a way to say it, but whereas one use can be a humble way of wording it, another way is a vulgar way of saying "stupid younger brother", ironically! So the first two are probably the best choices; "oto" or "ototo".
For your own older brother, you can call him [Ani] or [Aniki]. For someone else's older brother, you can refer to him as [Onii-san] or [Onii-chan](a bit closer). For your own little brother, you can call him [ototo], and for someone else's younger brother, call him [ototo-san].
There are three ways you will hear this most:

兄 (ani) - your older brother

お兄さん (oniisan) - someone else's older brother

弟 (otouto) - younger brother

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

What else can I help you with?