妹
KANJI DETAIL
younger sister
On readingまい8 strokesN4
Radical 女 · womanStroke order
Loading the stroke order for 妹.
Japanese readings
- On reading
- まい
- Kun reading
- いもうと, いも
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
妹means younger sister; its kun-reading isいもうとand its on-reading isまい. - Basic usage:
妹(いもうと)means a younger sister, while姉妹(しまい)refers to sisters together.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- A female sibling who is younger
私の妹means my younger sister. Unlike a general term for a female sibling, this word includes the distinction of being younger than oneself.- The final
まいin姉妹is the on-reading. The compound refers to sisters together rather than the one younger sister named by妹.