弟

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 弟は中学生です。▶ —
   My younger brother is in middle school.
2. 弟さんは何歳ですか。▶ —
   How old is your younger brother?

Collocations

Mnemonic

おとうと — 弟, Sino-Japanese. The pair to 兄 ani. Same rules — your own family: 弟 otouto (humble). someone else's: 弟さん otoutosan (honorific). When 兄 and 弟 combine, the reading flips to onyomi: 兄弟 kyoudai (siblings). The Korean reading hyeong-je flows almost the same as kyou-dai. Japanese kinship words show exactly the pattern of kun-yomi alone, on-yomi in compounds — alone (kun): ani, otouto. compound (on): kyoudai. Derivatives — 実弟 jittei (a biological younger brother), 弟分 otoutobun (a junior treated like a younger brother). 弟分 is a typically Japanese coinage — placing a non-relative into a 'brother-like' social slot.

Quick check

1. Correct onyomi of 兄弟?

   • きょうだい kyoudai (correct)
   • けいだい keidai (wrong onyomi)
   • あにおとうと aniotouto (kun-on mix)
   • こうてい koutei (different word)