兄
KANJI DETAIL
older brother
On readingけい, きょう5 strokesN4
Radical 儿 · legsStroke order
Loading the stroke order for 兄.
Japanese readings
- On reading
- けい, きょう
- Kun reading
- あに, にい
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
兄refers to an older brother and is readあにas an independent word. - Basic usage:
お兄さんis readおにいさん, and兄弟, meaning siblings, is readきょうだい.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Family term and address for a young man
- In the example about asking for directions,
近くのお兄さんrefers familiarly to a nearby young man. Context distinguishes a family relationship from this use for addressing or referring to a young man.
- In the example about asking for directions,