お姉ちゃんありがとう
onēchan arigatō
In Japanese, "thank you sister" is translated as お姉ちゃんありがとう (onēchan arigatō).
This phrase is used to express gratitude specifically to one's own older sister. In Japanese, it is common to address an older sister by her title (onēchan) rather than by her given name.
Which one should you use?
Using お姉さん instead of お姉ちゃん makes the expression of gratitude sound more polite or formal.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a friendly and casual tone, you can also say Doumo, onee-chan. If you wish to be more polite, use お姉さんありがとう.
How do you pronounce it?
onēchan arigatō
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word お姉さん (oneesan) is often used to address women who are not related to you at all, such as a woman slightly older than yourself in a shop or cafe.
- In Japan, it is common for a younger sibling to never call their older sister by her first name, even in adulthood, as doing so would be considered disrespectful.
- In some traditional households, the word 姉 is replaced by 姉上 (ane-ue) to show extreme respect, a style still seen in historical dramas and samurai films.
Examples in context
- お姉ちゃんありがとう。Onēchan arigatō.Thank you, sister.
- お姉ちゃんありがとう、大好き。Onēchan arigatō, daisuki.Thank you, sister, I love you.
- プレゼント、お姉ちゃんありがとう！Purezento, onēchan arigatō!For the present, thank you, sister!
Example conversation
Youta receives a snack from his older sister Misaki.
- 美咲 Misakiはい、これお裾分けね。Hai, kore osusowake ne.Here, I'm sharing some of this with you.
- 陽太 Yotaわあ、お姉ちゃんありがとう！Waa, onee-chan arigato!Wow, thank you, sister!
- 美咲 Misakiいいえ、気にしないで。Iie, ki ni shinaide.No problem, don't mention it.
- 陽太 Yotaいただきます。Itadakimasu.I'll enjoy it.
