兄

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 兄 is read as あに and is a noun for the speaker’s own older brother. Its Korean equivalent depends on the speaker’s gender.
• Basic usage: Saying that one’s older brother is a university student appears in 兄は大学生だ, while watching a movie with that brother appears in 兄と映画を見る.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Difference from お兄さん
  • 兄 is normally used when speaking to others about one’s own older brother; お兄さん is the respectful term for someone else’s older brother or for direct address.