弟が二人います
otōto ga futari imasu
The English phrase "I have two younger brothers" is translated into Japanese as 弟が二人います (otōto ga futari imasu).
This phrase is used to inform someone that the speaker has two brothers who are younger than they are. The expression for the specific component "two younger brothers" is 弟が２人 (otōto ga futari).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of the following parts: 弟 (otōto) specifically refers to one's own younger brother. 二人 (futari) is the specific counter used for two people. And います (imasu) means "there is" or "to exist."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 弟が二人います uses the polite verb います, making it suitable for most social situations. You can make the sentence informal or plain by replacing います with いる to say 弟が二人いる.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this sentence, the particle が marks the younger brothers as the subject that exists. The verb います is used specifically because brothers are living beings.
How do you pronounce it?
otōto ga futari imasu
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word for 'younger brother' is strictly for your own family. If you were talking about someone else's younger brother, you would likely use the more respectful term 弟さん (otōto-san).
- The word 二人 (futari) is an irregular counter. While most Japanese counters follow a predictable pattern, futari is a unique word that does not use the standard number 'two' 二 (ni) plus a counter suffix.
- If you have two brothers but one is older and one is younger, you cannot use 弟 (otōto) to describe them as a group. You would have to list them separately or use the general word for siblings, 兄弟 (kyōdai).
Examples in context
- 家族 (かぞく) には弟が２人います。I have two younger brothers in my family.
- 私には弟が２人います。I have two younger brothers.
- 実は、弟が二人います。jitsu wa, otouto ga futari imasu.Actually, I have two younger brothers.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are chatting about their families during a break.
- 健太 Kenta結衣さんは兄弟がいますか？Yui-san wa kyoudai ga imasu ka?Yui, do you have siblings?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、弟が二人います。Hai, otouto ga futari imasu.Yes, I have two younger brothers.
- 健太 Kentaそうなんですね。賑やかそうですね。Sou nan desu ne. Nigiyaka sou desu ne.I see. It sounds lively.
- 結衣 Yuiはい、とても賑やかですよ。Hai, totemo nigiyaka desu yo.Yes, it is very lively.
