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Video Dictionary for Language Learners

How to say "sister" in Japanese

1
いもうと
(noun) younger sister
Indie

Indie

Content Editor
Indie holds a bachelor's degree in Japanese Studies and Women's Studies. She works as a JP-EN translator and an English language tutor for teens and adults.
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Clickable Example Sentences

These examples and translations are created specifically for language learners, and are manually reviewed. Click on words to look them up.
いもうと 学生 がくせい です です
(My) younger sister is (a) student.
これ これ いもうと 携帯 けいたい じゃない じゃない
This isn't (my) younger sister's mobile phone.
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Video Examples

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Are You for Real?
お前 おまえ いもうと
Your younger sister.
Basic Verbs 3
いもうと
(one's) younger sister
Basic Verbs 3
いもうと 誕生日 たんじょうび 昨日 きのう だった だった
(My) younger sister's birthday was yesterday.
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2
あね
(noun) older sister Typically used when talking about your older sister to somebody else.
Indie

Indie

Content Editor
Indie holds a bachelor's degree in Japanese Studies and Women's Studies. She works as a JP-EN translator and an English language tutor for teens and adults.
View Bio

Clickable Example Sentences

These examples and translations are created specifically for language learners, and are manually reviewed. Click on words to look them up.
わたし には にわ あね がい がい ます ます
I have an older sister.
あね わたし はい はい 電話 でんわ します します
My older sister and I always phone each other.
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Video Examples

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Basic Verbs 3
あね
(one's) older sister
Talking About Family - Part 1 of 2
ちち はは あね いもうと わたし です です
(it's my) dad, mom, older sister, younger sister, and me.
Talking About Family - Part 2 of 2
ちち はは あね あに 他に ほかに 双子 ふたご いもうと おとうと います います
Other than (my) dad, mom, older sister and older brother, (I) also have twin little sisters and (a) little brother.
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3
お姉ちゃん おねえちゃん
(noun) (informal) older sister お姉ちゃん is a less formal version of お姉さん, with the honorific ending さん replaced with the more familiar ending ちゃん.
Indie

Indie

Content Editor
Indie holds a bachelor's degree in Japanese Studies and Women's Studies. She works as a JP-EN translator and an English language tutor for teens and adults.
View Bio

Clickable Example Sentences

These examples and translations are created specifically for language learners, and are manually reviewed. Click on words to look them up.
お姉ちゃん おねえちゃん 一緒に いっしょに 遊ぼう あそぼう
Big sis, let's play together!
お姉ちゃん おねえちゃん いもうと 似て にて いる いる
(The) big sister and little sister look alike.
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Video Examples

Video examples are manually reviewed for accuracy.
The Sister She Never Knew - Trailer
旧姓 きゅうせい 大塚 おおつか あやめ あやめ お姉ちゃん おねえちゃん
Maiden name Otsuka, Ayame's elder sister.
An Interjection to Express Question or Surprise
ねえ ねえ ねえ ねえ お姉ちゃん おねえちゃん 明日 あした 忙しい いそがしい / 明日 あした
Hey, hey, sister, are (you) busy tomorrow? / Huh? Tomorrow?
Traces of You - Part 1 of 2
ちひろ ちひろ お前 おまえ お姉ちゃん おねえちゃん なん なん だから だから 健太 けんた 早く はやく 片付け かたづけ なさい なさい
(I) mean, Chihiro, you're (his) older sister! Kenta, hurry and tidy up!
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4
お姉さん おねえさん
(noun) older sister; young lady; miss; ma'am Kinship terms are not just used to address family members in Japanese. This term can be used for older sisters or unrelated women who are younger than middle aged.
Indie

Indie

Content Editor
Indie holds a bachelor's degree in Japanese Studies and Women's Studies. She works as a JP-EN translator and an English language tutor for teens and adults.
View Bio

Clickable Example Sentences

These examples and translations are created specifically for language learners, and are manually reviewed. Click on words to look them up.
あなた あなた お姉さん おねえさん きれい きれい
Your older sister is pretty.
そこ そこ お姉さん おねえさん
Young lady over there!
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Video Examples

Video examples are manually reviewed for accuracy.
Basic Verbs 3
お姉さん おねえさん
(She) is (my) older sister.
The Family Finger Song
お姉さん おねえさん ゆび お姉さん おねえさん ゆび どこ どこ いる いる
Big sister finger, big sister finger, where are (you)?
Penguin Highway - Trailer
ペンギン ぺんぎん お姉さん おねえさん みな 見つかって みつかって しまいます しまいます
(The) penguins, (the) lady... everyone will be found.
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5
姉さん ねえさん
(noun) older sister; older woman
Indie

Indie

Content Editor
Indie holds a bachelor's degree in Japanese Studies and Women's Studies. She works as a JP-EN translator and an English language tutor for teens and adults.
View Bio

Clickable Example Sentences

These examples and translations are created specifically for language learners, and are manually reviewed. Click on words to look them up.
となり いえ 姉さん ねえさん 優しい やさしい
(The) lady next door is kindhearted.
姉さん ねえさん いもうと わたし 似て にて いる いる
(My) older sister and myself are alike.
Quiz Yourself on " 姉さん"

Video Examples

Video examples are manually reviewed for accuracy.
Beautiful Kyoto: Being a Maiko - Part 2 of 3
芸妓 げいこ さん さん 姉さん ねえさん とか とか いえ 部屋 へや 舞妓 まいこ さん さん 姉さん ねえさん いつも いつも 解いて といて もうて もうて
so they'll get the geiko sisters or maiko sisters in the room at home to do it.
Beautiful Kyoto: Being a Maiko - Part 1 of 3
こう こう お客様 おきゃくさま とか とか こう こう 一緒 いっしょ 座敷 ざしき して して もうた もうた 姉さん ねえさん がた つこう つこう とか とか
going for dinner parties with guests, being cared for by the sisters,
Charlie Brown and Friends Practice Kindness to Others
姉さん ねえさん って って 世界中 せかいじゅう 人達 ひとたち 幸せ しあわせ 願う ねがう 心優しい こころやさしい ひと
Big sister, (you're a) compassionate person who wishes for (the) happiness of everyone around (the) world, right?
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