Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 姉 | ane | [a̠ne̞] (narrow) | |
| お姉さん | onēsan | [o̞ne̞ːsã̠ɴ] (narrow) | honorific |
| 姉ちゃん | nēchan | [ne̞ːt͡ɕã̠ɴ] (narrow) | familiar |
| 姉上 | aneue | [a̠ne̞ɯ̟e̞] (narrow) | archaic, honorific |
The term refers to an older sister. While 姉 is a standard term, the term anego can carry a slightly more rough or bossy connotation.
Which one should you use?
Use 姉 when referring to your own older sister to others, but use お姉さん when addressing or referring to someone else's older sister.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
姉 is a term used in a formal context. For an informal and affectionate way to address an older sister, often used by children or in very close family settings, you can use 姉ちゃん. The term 姉上 is an archaic, highly respectful term for an older sister, typically found in historical dramas or literature.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the word お姉さん, the prefix お and the suffix さん function as honorifics to show respect to the person being discussed.
How do you pronounce it?
ane
When do people say it?
お姉さん can be used as a polite way to address a young woman who is not necessarily your sister.
Did you know?
- In some Japanese dialects or slang, the term 姉御 meaning 'older sister' is used to refer to a female boss or a female leader in the Yakuza organized crime syndicates.
- The word 姉 (ane) is actually a linguistic relative of the word for 'elder brother', 兄 (ani). They share a common ancestral root related to the concept of an eldest sibling.
- The pronunciation of the core word 姉 can shift from 'ane' to 'nee' depending on whether it is used alone or with honorifics, a common phonetic shift in Japanese.
Examples in context
- 姉はいない。I don't have an older sister.This sentence is useful for stating that you do not have an older sister.Tatoeba #9432274 by small_snow, translation #9432270 by CK
- 姉は二つ上です。My older sister has two years over me.This sentence is useful for describing how many years older your sister is.Tatoeba #11047983 by small_snow, translation #10528775 by DJ_Saidez
- 彼女は私の姉です。She's my older sister.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as your older sister.Tatoeba #89377 by bunbuku, translation #469125 by CK
- 45 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta asks Yui about her sibling during a casual chat.
- 健太 Kenta結衣さんは姉がいますか？Yui-san wa ane ga imasu ka?Yui, do you have an older sister?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、姉が一人います。Hai, ane ga hitori imasu.Yes, I have one older sister.
- 健太 Kentaそうですか。お姉さんはお元気ですか？Sou desu ka. Oneesan wa ogenki desu ka?I see. Is your older sister doing well?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、とても元気ですよ。Hai, totemo genki desu yo.Yes, she is doing very well.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “older sister” translations and entries 姉, お姉さん, 姉ちゃん, 姉上, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries お姉さん, 姉, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
