兄貴
aniki[a̠ɲ̟ikʲi]
The Japanese word for bro is 兄貴 (aniki).
兄貴 is used to refer to a male comrade, a close friend or someone who shares your ideals. It is often associated with masculine subcultures, such as sports teams, tight-knit groups of men or gangs and it can sound quite rough or 'tough' to a general listener.
Meaning: male comrade or friend, one who shares one’s ideals (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of the kanji for 'older brother' (兄) and a suffix (貴) that adds a sense of respect or weight.
Which one should you use?
While the standard word for older brother is 兄 (ani), 兄貴 carries a heavy connotation of camaraderie and social hierarchy rather than just a biological relation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
兄貴 is an informal, colloquial term. It is used to refer to a mentor, a superior or a close male friend in a street-smart context.
How do you pronounce it?
aniki
Did you know?
- The possible origin of 兄貴 from the archaic 兄君 (anikimi) suggests that the 'toughness' of the word is actually a linguistic fossil of an older, more respectful way of addressing men.
- In certain subcultures, calling someone 兄貴 is not a sign of casual friendship, but a formal recognition of a rigid hierarchy. It functions as a title that places the recipient in a position of authority over the speaker.
- The term 兄貴 can sound oddly theatrical or aggressive if used within a normal family setting. While it means 'older brother', using it for a biological sibling at home can make you sound like a character from a crime drama.
Examples in context
- 兄貴、何をしているの？What are you doing bro?This sentence is useful for seeing how to address a bro using 兄貴.Tatoeba #6576413 by User77813, translation #6576408 by User77813
- 彼は俺の兄貴だ。Kare wa ore no aniki da.He is my bro.
- あの人は僕の兄貴のような存在です。Ano hito wa boku no aniki no yōna sonzai desu.That person is like a bro to me.
Example conversation
Ren is asking Misaki for her opinion on his new jacket.
- 蓮 Renこのジャケット、どうかな？Kono jaketto, dō kana?What do you think of this jacket?
- 美咲 Misakiかっこいいと思うよ、蓮。Kakkoii to omou yo, Ren.I think it's cool, Ren.
- 蓮 Renやっぱり兄貴に聞けば間違いないな。Yappari aniki ni kikeba machigainai na.I knew I could count on you, bro.
- 美咲 Misaki私を兄貴って呼ばないでよ。Watashi o aniki tte yobanaide yo.Don't call me bro.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 兄貴, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 兄貴, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
