older brother
On'yomi (音読み)
- キョ
- ケイ
Kun'yomi (訓読み)
- あに
About this kanji
The kanji 兄 means "older brother" and is used primarily as a noun. Its kun'yomi reading is あに, and it can be found in various common compounds. For instance, 兄弟 (きょうだい) means "siblings," referring to both brothers and sisters, while 兄さん (にいさん) is an informal and friendly way to say "older brother." Another compound, 兄貴 (あにき), conveys a sense of respect or fondness, similar to "big brother." This kanji highlights familial relationships in Japanese culture, so you might encounter it frequently when discussing family members. Remember that while 兄 is used for older brothers, you will use different terms for younger siblings.
Built from
Example sentences
私の兄は学生です。
My older brother is a student.
Meanings across languages
- English
- older brother
- Tiếng Việt
- anh trai
- 日本語
- あに
- 한국어
- 형
- 中文
- 哥哥
- id
- kakak laki-laki
- th
- พี่ชาย
- es
- hermano mayor
- fr
- grand frère
- de
- Älterer Bruder
- pt
- irmão mais velho
Common compounds
- 兄弟きょうだいsiblings
- 兄さんにいさんolder brother (informal)
- 兄貴あにきbig brother
Want to actually learn this kanji?
The dictionary is one view. The Kanji 360 app wraps every character with mnemonic images, audio readings, stroke-order animation, story context, and SRS scheduling — free to start on iPhone, iPad, and Android.