WORD DETAIL
姉さん
ねえさん
Examples
Included kanji
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
姉さん(ねえさん) can refer to one's older sister or serve as an address for a young woman. - Basic usage:
姉さんはidentifies a family member, while vocativeお姉さん、politely addresses an unfamiliar young woman.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Family reference and polite address
- The prefixed
お姉さんin the second context is a form of address, so English needs miss or young lady rather than a literal kinship term.
- The prefixed

