弟
[o̞to̞ːto̞]
The English phrase 'small brother' is translated into Japanese as 弟.
The term 弟 refers specifically to a male sibling who is younger than the speaker.
Which one should you use?
While 弟 refers to a younger brother, the term 兄 is used specifically for an older brother. Additionally, you should use 弟 when speaking about your own younger brother, but when referring to someone else's younger brother, you should use the form 弟さん.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the honorific suffix -san to 弟 creates the polite form 弟さん, which is used to refer to another person's younger brother.
Did you know?
- The word 弟 is often used as a humble term when speaking to superiors, effectively lowering the status of the speaker's family to show respect to the listener.
- In certain Japanese martial arts or traditional crafts, the term 弟 can be used to describe a junior disciple who is socially or technically beneath you, even if they are not your actual sibling.
- The pronunciation of 弟 has shifted dramatically over centuries, evolving from the ancient 'otopito' to the modern 'otouto' through several intermediary forms.
Examples in context
- 弟は大学生です。Otōto wa daigakusei desu.My younger brother is a college student.
- 弟が一人います。Otōto ga hitori imasu.I have one younger brother.
- 弟はとても元気です。Otōto wa totemo genki desu.My younger brother is very energetic.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their families at a cafe.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太君には弟がいるの？Yōta-kun ni wa otōto ga iru no?Yota, do you have a younger brother?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、弟が二人いるよ。Un, otōto ga futari iru yo.Yes, I have two younger brothers.
- 美咲 Misakiそうなんだ、賑やかそうね。Sō nanda, nigiyaka sō ne.I see, that sounds lively.
- 陽太 Yota毎日とても賑やかだよ。Mainichi totemo nigiyaka da yo.It is very lively every day.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 弟, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 弟, CC BY-SA 4.0.
