Readings: シ (Onyomi), あね (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Older sister
Formed by combining the radical 女 (woman) with the component 市 (shì, a phonetic component that also means “market” or “city”). The 市 part contributes to the sound ‘shi’ and conceptually might relate to an elder female figure in a community or household.
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 姉 is composed of 8 strokes. Start with the left-hand radical 女 (woman), drawing it from left to right. Then, proceed to the right side, starting with the vertical stroke of 市, followed by the two horizontal strokes, and ending with the last vertical stroke and the final two dots.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 女 (おんな) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 8 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | N/A |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- シ (Shi)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- あね (Ane)
Common Words Using 姉
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 姉妹 | しまい | sisters |
| 姉弟 | してい | older sister and younger brother |
| 長姉 | ちょうし | eldest sister |
| 義姉 | ぎし | sister-in-law (older) |
| 実姉 | じっし | one’s own elder sister |
| 亡姉 | ぼうし | deceased elder sister |
| 令姉 | れいし | someone’s elder sister (honorific) |
| 伯姉 | はくし | elder paternal aunt (formal, literary) |
| 仲姉 | ちゅうし | middle sister (formal, literary) |
| 賢姉 | けんし | wise older sister (formal) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 姉 | あね | older sister |
| お姉さん | おねえさん | polite older sister |
| 姉御 | あねご | boss lady, female leader |
| 姉貴 | あねき | big sister (casual) |
| 姉婿 | あねむこ | older sister’s husband |
| 姉さん女房 | ねえさんにょうぼう | wife older than husband |
| 姉弟子 | あねでし | senior female disciple/apprentice |
| 義理の姉 | ぎりのあね | sister-in-law |
| 姉様 | あねさま | older sister (polite/formal) |
| 姉上 | あねうえ | older sister (archaic/formal) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 私の姉は東京に住んでいます。
Kana: わたしのあねはとうきょうにすんでいます。
Romaji: Watashi no ane wa Tōkyō ni sunde imasu.
English: My older sister lives in Tokyo.
Japanese: 彼女はお姉さんです。
Kana: かのじょはおねえさんです。
Romaji: Kanojo wa onee-san desu.
English: She is my older sister.
Japanese: あなたはお姉さんがいますか？
Kana: あなたはおねえさんがいますか？
Romaji: Anata wa onee-san ga imasu ka?
English: Do you have an older sister?
Japanese: 私の姉は本を読むのが好きです。
Kana: わたしのあねはほんをよむのがすきです。
Romaji: Watashi no ane wa hon o yomu no ga suki desu.
English: My older sister likes reading books.
Japanese: 姉と買い物に行きました。
Kana: あねとかいものにいきました。
Romaji: Ane to kaimono ni ikimashita.
English: I went shopping with my older sister.
Japanese: 彼女のお姉さんは先生です。
Kana: かのじょのおねえさんはせんせいす。
Romaji: Kanojo no onee-san wa sensei desu.
English: Her older sister is a teacher.
Japanese: 私の姉はピアノを上手に弾きます。
Kana: わたしのあねはぴあのをじょうずなひきます。
Romaji: Watashi no ane wa piano o jōzu ni hikimasu.
English: My older sister plays the piano well.
Japanese: 姉から本を借りました。
Kana: あねからほんをかりました。
Romaji: Ane kara hon o karimashita.
English: I borrowed a book from my older sister.
Japanese: 私の姉は美味しい料理を作ります。
Kana: わたしのあねはおいしいりょうりをつくります。
Romaji: Watashi no ane wa oishii ryōri o tsukurimasu.
English: My older sister cooks delicious food.
Japanese: 姉は私に良いアドバイスをくれます。
Kana: あねはわたしによいあどばいすをくれます。
Romaji: Ane wa watashi ni yoi adobaisu o kuremasu.
English: My older sister gives me good advice.
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