Readings: ケイ, キョウ (Onyomi), あに (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Older brother
This kanji is a pictograph of a person (儿) with an opened mouth (口), representing speaking or telling. It depicts an elder person who speaks or gives instructions, hence the meaning “older brother.”
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 兄 has 5 strokes. It starts with the top-left vertical stroke, then the horizontal line for the mouth, followed by the left vertical stroke, then the horizontal-bend for the mouth, and finally the bottom “legs” radical.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 儿 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 5 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | Grade 2 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ケイ (kei)
- キョウ (kyou)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- あに (ani)
Common Words Using 兄
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 兄弟 | きょうだい | siblings; brothers |
| 義兄 | ぎけい | older brother-in-law |
| 実兄 | じっけい | biological older brother |
| 長兄 | ちょうけい | eldest brother |
| 師兄 | しけい | senior disciple; fellow disciple |
| 愚兄 | ぐけい | my foolish older brother (humble, self-referential) |
| 令兄 | れいけい | your older brother (polite) |
| 家兄 | かけい | my older brother (humble) |
| 兄事 | けいじ | to serve respectfully as an elder brother |
| 従兄 | じゅうけい | older male cousin (on mother’s side) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 兄 | あに | older brother (personal, informal) |
| お兄さん | おにいさん | older brother (polite) |
| 兄貴 | あにき | older brother (colloquial, familiar) |
| 兄さん | にいさん | older brother (less formal than お兄さん) |
| 兄上 | あにうえ | older brother (archaic, highly respectful) |
| うちの兄 | うちのあに | my older brother (familiar) |
| 兄たち | あにたち | older brothers (plural) |
| 兄夫婦 | あにふうふ | older brother and his wife |
| 兄貴分 | あにきぶん | an older brother figure; mentor |
| 一番上の兄 | いちばんうえのあに | the oldest brother |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 私の兄は医者です。
Kana: わたしのあにはいしゃです。
Romaji: Watashi no ani wa isha desu.
English: My older brother is a doctor.
Japanese: 兄弟はいますか？
Kana: きょうだいはいますか？
Romaji: Kyōdai wa imasu ka?
English: Do you have siblings?
Japanese: 私にはお兄さんがいます。
Kana: わたしにはおにいさんがいます。
Romaji: Watashi ni wa onii-san ga imasu.
English: I have an older brother.
Japanese: あの人は私の兄貴だ。
Kana: あのひとはわたしのかにきだ。
Romaji: Ano hito wa watashi no aniki da.
English: That person is my older brother figure/boss.
Japanese: 長兄はいつも私を助けてくれる。
Kana: ちょうけいはいつもわたしをたすけてくれる。
Romaji: Chōkei wa itsumo watashi o tasukete kureru.
English: My eldest brother always helps me.
Japanese: 兄夫婦は来週旅行に行きます。
Kana: あにふうふはらいしゅうりょこうにいきます。
Romaji: Ani fūfu wa raishū ryokō ni ikimasu.
English: My older brother and his wife are going on a trip next week.
Japanese: 彼の兄はとても親切です。
Kana: かれのあにはとてもしんせつです。
Romaji: Kare no ani wa totemo shinsetsu desu.
English: His older brother is very kind.
Japanese: 田中さんは兄と呼びました。
Kana: たなかさんはあにとよびました。
Romaji: Tanaka-san wa ani to yobimashita.
English: Mr. Tanaka called him “ani” (older brother).
Japanese: 私は弟ですが、彼は私の兄です。
Kana: わたしはおとうとですが、かれはわたしのあにです。
Romaji: Watashi wa otōto desu ga, kare wa watashi no ani desu.
English: I am the younger brother, but he is my older brother.
Japanese: 兄の部屋はいつもきれいです。
Kana: あにのへやはいつもきれいです。
Romaji: Ani no heya wa itsumo kirei desu.
English: My older brother’s room is always clean.
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