Japanese word

お姉さん

Pronunciation

Romajionēsan

Meaning

  • nounolder sister

Example

私のお姉さんは先生です。watashi no o nē sa n wa sen sei de su

My older sister is a teacher.

Illustration for お姉さん (older sister)

More examples

お姉さんに誕生日のプレゼントを渡しました。o nē sa n ni tan jō hi no pu re ze n to o wata shi ma shi ta

I gave my older sister a birthday present.

Core concept

Centers on a female person who is older than the speaker or is treated as a familiar, respectful young woman.

Common phrases

  • お姉さんに聞くo nē sa n ni ki ku

    ask an older sister

  • お姉さんと出かけるo nē sa n to de ka ke ru

    go out with an older sister

Similar words

姉ane: A plain term for a female sibling who is older than the speaker.
姉さんnēsan: A familiar term for an older sister and sometimes for a young woman.

Definition in Japanese

自分より年上の女きょうだい、または若い女性に親しみや敬意を込めて呼びかける語。ji bun yo ri toshi ue no onna kyō da i ma ta wa waka i jo sei ni shita shi mi ya kei i o ko me te yo bi ka ke ru go

Word origin

お姉さん (onēsan) combines お (o), an honorific prefix, 姉 (ane, "older sister"), and さん (san), a polite title.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, お姉さん (onēsan) can address a young woman politely, so it does not always mean that she is the speaker's actual sister.

Other meanings

  • missnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word