Readings: テイ, ダイ, デ (Onyomi), おとうと (Kunyomi)
Meaning: younger brother
The character 弟 is a pictograph of a knot or a series of knots on a string, which originally represented “order” or “sequence.” Over time, it came to be associated with “younger brother” as the one who follows in sequence or order after an elder sibling.
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 弟 is drawn with 7 strokes. Start with the two horizontal strokes, followed by the vertical stroke. Then draw the radical 弓, finishing with the last vertical stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 弓 (ゆみ) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 7 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | 2 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- テイ (Tei)
- ダイ (Dai)
- デ (De)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- おとうと (otōto)
Common Words Using 弟
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 兄弟 | きょうだい | brothers; siblings |
| 弟子 | でし | disciple; apprentice |
| 師弟 | してい | master and pupil |
| 義弟 | ぎてい | brother-in-law (younger) |
| 実弟 | じってい | real younger brother |
| 令弟 | れいてい | your younger brother (honorific) |
| 門弟 | もんてい | pupil; follower |
| 兄弟愛 | きょうだいい | brotherly love |
| 直弟子 | じきでし | direct disciple |
| 兄弟分 | きょうだいぶん | sworn brother; adopted brother |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 弟 | おとうと | younger brother |
| 弟さん | おとうとさん | someone’s younger brother (polite) |
| 弟弟子 | おとうとでし | junior apprentice/disciple |
| 弟分 | おとうとぶん | adopted younger brother; junior member |
| 弟嫁 | おとうとよめ | younger brother’s wife |
| 弟夫婦 | おとうとふうふ | younger brother and his wife |
| 弟気 | おとうとき | brotherly spirit |
| 弟御 | おとうとご | your younger brother (polite, literary) |
| 弟君 | おとうとぎみ | your younger brother (dated honorific) |
| 弟筋 | おとうとすじ | family line of the younger brother (niche term) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 私の弟は大学生です。
Kana: わたしの おとうとは だいがくせいです。
Romaji: Watashi no otōto wa daigakusei desu.
English: My younger brother is a university student.
Japanese: 弟と一緒に映画を見に行きました。
Kana: おとうとと いっしょに えいがを みにいきました。
Romaji: Otōto to issho ni eiga o mi ni ikimashita.
English: I went to see a movie with my younger brother.
Japanese: 彼は弟によく似ています。
Kana: かれは おとうとによくにています。
Romaji: Kare wa otōto ni yoku niteimasu.
English: He resembles his younger brother very much.
Japanese: 弟は来年、小学校に入学します。
Kana: おとうとは らいねん、しょうがっこうに にゅうがくします。
Romaji: Otōto wa rainen, shōgakkō ni nyūgaku shimasu.
English: My younger brother will enter elementary school next year.
Japanese: 弟から面白い話を聞きました。
Kana: おとうとから おもしろいはなしを ききました。
Romaji: Otōto kara omoshiroi hanashi o kikimashita.
English: I heard an interesting story from my younger brother.
Japanese: 弟とよくボードゲームをします。
Kana: おとうとと よくボードゲームをします。
Romaji: Otōto to yoku bōdogēmu o shimasu.
English: I often play board games with my younger brother.
Japanese: 弟はまだ子供です。
Kana: おとうとは まだ こどもです。
Romaji: Otōto wa mada kodomo desu.
English: My younger brother is still a child.
Japanese: 私の弟は動物が大好きです。
Kana: わたしの おとうとは どうぶつが だいすきです。
Romaji: Watashi no otōto wa dōbutsu ga daisuki desu.
English: My younger brother loves animals.
Japanese: 弟の誕生日プレゼントを買いに行きました。
Kana: おとうとの たんじょうびプレゼントを かいにいきました。
Romaji: Otōto no tanjōbi purezento o kai ni ikimashita.
English: I went to buy a birthday present for my younger brother.
Japanese: 彼はいつも弟の面倒を見ています。
Kana: かれは いつも おとうとの めんどうをみています。
Romaji: Kare wa itsumo otōto no mendō o miteimasu.
English: He always looks after his younger brother.
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