大好きだよ、お兄ちゃん
daisuki da yo, oniichan
The English phrase "I love you, brother" is translated into Japanese as 大好きだよ、お兄ちゃん (daisuki da yo, oniichan).
This phrase is an expression of deep affection used when speaking to one's older brother. In Japanese, the term 大好き can mean both "I love you" and "I really like you."
Which one should you use?
The term お兄ちゃん used in this phrase is much more casual and affectionate than the more formal oniisan or the respectful oniisama.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The suffix -chan in お兄ちゃん makes the address to the brother sound cute, affectionate or childlike.
How do you pronounce it?
daisuki da yo, oniichan
What mistakes should you avoid?
If you want to say "I love you" in a more standard or direct way, you can use 愛しています.
Did you know?
- While 大好き is used here, Japanese speakers rarely say 'I love you' to family members. Affection is more commonly shown through actions or by mentioning a specific thing they like about the person.
- In Japanese culture, addressing an older brother by his actual name is often considered rude, making the use of お兄ちゃん a necessary sign of respect and affection.
- In many Japanese anime or manga, a female character might use お兄ちゃん to address a male character who is not her biological brother at all, to signal extreme closeness or a 'cute' persona.
Examples in context
- 大好きだよ、お兄ちゃん。Daisuki da yo, oniichan.I love you, big brother.
- いつもありがとう。大好きだよ、お兄ちゃん。Itsumo arigatou. Daisuki da yo, oniichan.Thanks for everything. I love you, big brother.
Example conversation
A younger sister tells her older brother how much she appreciates him at home.
- 陽葵 Himariお兄ちゃん、大好きだよ。Oniichan, daisuki da yo.Big brother, I love you.
- 蓮 Renありがとう、陽葵。Arigatou, Himari.Thank you, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himariこれからもずっと、大好きだよ、お兄ちゃん。Kore kara mo zutto, daisuki da yo, oniichan.I will love you always, big brother.
- 蓮 Ren俺も大好きだよ。Ore mo daisuki da yo.I love you too.
