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A2 noun #3,000 most common 8 min read

あに

ani Top 3,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips あに in 30 Seconds

Explanation あに in your Level:

At the A1 level, you learn 'ani' as a basic vocabulary word for family members. You use it in simple sentences like 'Watashi no ani desu' (This is my brother). At this stage, the focus is just on distinguishing 'ani' (elder brother) from 'ototo' (younger brother). You might use it to answer basic questions about your family during a self-introduction. You don't need to worry too much about the complex humble/polite rules yet, but you should know that 'ani' means 'my brother' and 'onii-san' is the word you use for others.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'ani' in more descriptive sentences. You can talk about your brother's age, occupation, or where he lives. You start to understand the 'Uchi-Soto' rule: that 'ani' is the word you use when speaking to a teacher or a new acquaintance about your family. You can use particles like 'to' (with) or 'ni' (to/from) with 'ani', such as 'Ani to kaimono ni ikimashita' (I went shopping with my brother). You are expected to know that you shouldn't call your brother 'ani' to his face.

At the B1 level, you use 'ani' in complex sentences with relative clauses. For example, 'Igirisu ni sunde iru ani wa, rainen nihon ni kaerimasu' (My brother, who lives in England, will return to Japan next year). You are more comfortable with the humble register and can use 'ani' correctly in semi-formal situations, like a job interview or a business meeting. You also start to recognize the kanji 兄 and can differentiate it from similar kanji like 弟 (younger brother) or 児 (child).

At the B2 level, you understand the nuances of 'ani' in various social contexts. You can discuss family dynamics and use 'ani' when explaining cultural differences in how siblings interact. You might encounter the word in news reports or more formal literature. You understand that 'ani' is part of a broader system of kinship terms that change based on the speaker's relationship to the listener. You can also use compound words like 'giri no ani' (brother-in-law) or 'itoko no ani' (older male cousin) correctly.

At the C1 level, you are sensitive to the stylistic uses of 'ani'. You might notice how a character in a novel uses 'ani' versus 'aniki' to convey their personality or social status. You understand the historical development of the term and its kanji. You can use 'ani' in very formal written contexts, such as legal documents or academic papers discussing family structures. You are also aware of regional variations and how the term might be used metaphorically in professional hierarchies.

At the C2 level, you have a native-like grasp of 'ani'. You can appreciate the subtle emotional weight the word might carry in a poem or a high-level literary work. You understand all the archaic and formal variations of the word. You can navigate the most complex social situations where family members must be referred to with extreme humility or specific honorifics depending on the status of the person you are talking to. You can explain the intricacies of the Japanese kinship system to others in great detail.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

あに in 30 Seconds

Refers to 'my elder brother' in a humble way.
Used when talking to people outside your inner circle.
Never used to address your brother directly.
Essential for polite social introductions and business.

The Japanese word あに (Ani) is a noun specifically designating one's own elder brother. In the intricate landscape of Japanese social linguistics, this term belongs to the category of 'humble' or 'in-group' language. It is primarily used when you are speaking to someone outside of your immediate social circle—such as a teacher, a colleague, or a stranger—about your own brother. Understanding 'ani' requires a grasp of the Uchi-Soto (Inside-Outside) concept, where speakers lower the status of their own family members to show respect to the listener.

Core Meaning: My elder brother (referential use).
Social Function: Used to humble one's own family in front of outsiders.
Kanji Representation: 兄 (Derived from a person with a large mouth, symbolizing an elder who speaks/instructs).

これは私のあにです。
(Kore wa watashi no ani desu.)
This is my elder brother.

In a professional setting, if a client asks about your family, you would say, "Ani wa ginkouin desu" (My elder brother is a bank employee). Using the more polite 'Onii-san' in this context would actually be a social faux pas because it elevates your own family member in a situation where you should be humble. Conversely, if you are talking to your mother about your brother, you might use 'Onii-chan' or 'Onii-san' because you are both inside the same 'Uchi' circle. The word 'ani' effectively acts as a marker of social maturity and awareness of hierarchy.

あにはイギリスに住んでいます。
(Ani wa igirisu ni sunde imasu.)
My brother lives in England.

Register: Standard/Formal (when referring to one's own family).
Counterpart: 弟 (Ototo - younger brother).

Historically, the kanji for 'ani' depicts a mouth on top of legs. This implies someone who has the authority to speak or give orders to younger siblings. While modern Japanese family dynamics are less rigid, the linguistic distinction remains a cornerstone of polite conversation. In literature or anime, you might hear 'aniki,' which is a more rough or masculine version of 'ani,' often used in gangs or close-knit male groups, but in standard A2 Japanese, 'ani' is your reliable go-to for factual descriptions of your family tree to outsiders.

Using あに (Ani) correctly involves understanding its role as a subject or object in a sentence when describing family relations. It is almost always preceded by 'watashi no' (my) in introductory levels, though in natural Japanese, 'watashi no' is often dropped if the context is clear. The grammar follows standard noun patterns, but the key is the pragmatic context of humble speech.

As Subject: あには医者です。(Ani wa isha desu) - My brother is a doctor.
As Object: あにに電話しました。(Ani ni denwa shimashita) - I called my brother.

私のあには背が高いです。
(Watashi no ani wa se ga takai desu.)
My elder brother is tall.

When describing your brother's actions to a superior, you use 'ani' in conjunction with standard polite verbs (desu/masu). You should avoid using honorific verbs for your brother's actions when speaking to an outsider. For example, you wouldn't say 'Ani wa irasshaimasu' (My brother is here [honorific]); you would say 'Ani wa orimasu' (My brother is here [humble]). This reinforces the idea that your brother is part of your 'team' and you are presenting a humble front to the world.

あにと映画を見ました。
(Ani to eiga o mimashita.)
I watched a movie with my elder brother.

In written Japanese, particularly in formal self-introductions or resumes, 'ani' is the standard way to list siblings. You might see it in a list: 'Chichi, haha, ani, watashi' (Father, mother, elder brother, me). Note that 'ani' can also be combined with other words to form compound nouns like 'Giri no ani' (Brother-in-law). Even in these cases, the rule of humble reference applies.

Possessive: あにの本 (Ani no hon) - My brother's book.
With Particles: あにも行きます (Ani mo ikimasu) - My brother is also going.

あにから手紙が来ました。
(Ani kara tegami ga kimashita.)
A letter came from my brother.

You will encounter あに (Ani) in various real-world scenarios, ranging from polite social gatherings to business environments. It is a staple of the 'self-introduction' (Jikoshoukai) which is a vital part of Japanese culture. When a Japanese person is asked, 'Gokyoudai wa?' (Do you have siblings?), the natural response starts with 'Ani ga hitori imasu' (I have one elder brother).

Business Context: Explaining family leave or personal background to a manager.
Novels/Literature: Narrators referring to their siblings in a story.

「ご兄弟はいますか？」「はい、あにが二人います。」
(Gokyoudai wa imasu ka? Hai, ani ga futari imasu.)
'Do you have siblings?' 'Yes, I have two elder brothers.'

In television interviews or documentaries, when a person is talking about their upbringing, they will consistently use 'ani' to refer to their older brother. It sounds professional and grounded. If you are watching a news report about a family, the reporter might use 'ani' when quoting a sibling's statement. It is also common in formal letters or emails when mentioning family matters.

あにの影響で野球を始めました。
(Ani no eikyou de yakyuu o hajimemashita.)
I started baseball due to my elder brother's influence.

Even in semi-formal settings, like talking to a friend's parents for the first time, 'ani' is the appropriate choice. While you might use 'Onii-chan' with your very close friends, 'ani' remains the safest and most respectable choice for any situation where you want to appear polite. It is also found in official documents, legal contexts, and genealogy charts.

News/Media: Reporting on a victim's or suspect's brother.
Formal Introductions: Wedding speeches or funeral eulogies.

The most frequent mistake learners make with あに (Ani) is using it to address their brother directly. If you walk into your brother's room and say "Ani!", he will look at you very strangely. In that context, you are inside the family circle, so you should use an honorific or affectionate term like 'Onii-san' or 'Onii-chan'.

❌ あに、おはよ！ (Ani, ohayo!) - Incorrect.
✅ お兄ちゃん、おはよ！ (Onii-chan, ohayo!) - Correct.

Another common error is using 'ani' when talking about someone else's brother. If you ask a friend, "How is your brother?", and you say "Ani wa genki desu ka?", it sounds like you are asking about your own brother, or it sounds confusingly humble about their family. For others, always use 'Onii-san'.

Learners also sometimes confuse 'ani' (elder brother) with 'ototo' (younger brother) or 'ane' (elder sister). Because the sounds are similar (ani/ane), it’s easy to swap them. Remember that 'i' in 'ani' can be associated with 'ichiban' (number one/older), though this is just a mnemonic. Furthermore, using 'ani' in a very casual, slangy way with close friends might sound slightly stiff, though it is never technically 'wrong' as long as you are referring to your own brother.

Mistake 1: Using 'ani' for someone else's brother.
Mistake 2: Addressing your brother as 'ani'.
Mistake 3: Confusing 'ani' (brother) with 'ane' (sister).

❌ 田中さんのあに (Tanaka-san no ani) - Incorrect.
✅ 田中さんのお兄さん (Tanaka-san no onii-san) - Correct.

There are several ways to refer to an elder brother in Japanese, each with a specific nuance and register. Choosing the right one depends on who you are talking to and how close you are to your brother.

お兄さん (Onii-san): The polite, standard way to refer to someone else's brother or to address your own brother. It is much more common in daily speech than 'ani'.
お兄ちゃん (Onii-chan): A cute, affectionate way to address one's brother. Used by children or females within the family.
アニキ (Aniki): Slangy, masculine, and often used in 'brotherhood' contexts like sports teams or gangs. It implies a 'cool' older brother figure.

Comparison: あに is the 'dictionary' and 'humble' form, while お兄さん is the 'social' and 'polite' form.

You might also hear 'Kyoudai' (siblings). While 'ani' is specific to an elder male, 'kyoudai' is the general term for brothers or siblings of any gender in some contexts. If you want to be very formal, you might use 'Jinan' (second son) or 'Chounan' (eldest son) to specify birth order more precisely than just 'ani'.

兄貴 (Aniki): Often used for non-biological 'brothers' in a mentor-mentee relationship.
義兄 (Gikei): Formal term for brother-in-law, often read as 'ani' in specific family contexts.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The kanji 兄 consists of 'mouth' (口) and 'human legs' (儿), suggesting a person who speaks or leads the group.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /a.ni/

US /ɑ.ni/

Japanese is a pitch-accent language. In standard Japanese (Tokyo), 'ani' starts high and stays high or drops slightly depending on the particle.

Rhymes With

カニ (Kani - crab) タニ (Tani - valley) ナニ (Nani - what) サニ (Sani - sunny) マニ (Mani) ワニ (Wani - crocodile) ダニ (Dani - mite) パニ (Pani)

Common Errors

Pronouncing it like 'Annie' (the English name). It should be 'Ah-nee'.
Elongating the 'i' sound like 'anii'.
Using an English 'r' sound if they confuse it with other words.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The kanji 兄 is basic and taught early.

Writing 2/5

Simple 5-stroke kanji.

Speaking 3/5

Challenging due to the social rules of when to use it vs Onii-san.

Listening 2/5

Clear pronunciation, easy to recognize.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

私 (Watashi) 家族 (Kazoku) です (Desu) は (Wa) の (No)

Learn Next

弟 (Ototo) 姉 (Ane) 妹 (Imouto) お兄さん (Onii-san) お姉さん (Onee-san)

Advanced

謙譲語 (Kenjougo) 尊敬語 (Sonkeigo) 親戚 (Shinseki) 義理 (Giri)

Grammar to Know

Uchi-Soto Concept

Using 'ani' for family, 'onii-san' for others.

Possessive Particle 'no'

兄の本 (My brother's book).

Existential Verb 'iru'

兄がいます (I have a brother).

Humble Language (Kenjougo)

Using 'ani' to lower family status.

Counters for People (Nin)

兄が二人います (I have two brothers).

Examples by Level

わたしのあにです。

It is my elder brother.

Simple identification using 'desu'.

あには二十歳です。

My brother is twenty years old.

Stating age.

あには学生です。

My brother is a student.

Describing occupation.

あには背が高いです。

My brother is tall.

Describing physical traits.

これはあにの本です。

This is my brother's book.

Possessive 'no'.

あにとテニスをしました。

I played tennis with my brother.

Particle 'to' (with).

あには東京にいます。

My brother is in Tokyo.

Describing location.

あにはパンが好きです。

My brother likes bread.

Expressing preference.

あには銀行で働いています。

My brother works at a bank.

Te-iru form for ongoing action.

あにからプレゼントをもらいました。

I received a present from my brother.

Particle 'kara' (from).

あには料理が上手です。

My brother is good at cooking.

Adjective 'jouzu' (skillful).

あにに英語を教えてもらいました。

My brother taught me English.

Te-morau (benefactive).

あには毎日ジョギングをします。

My brother jogs every day.

Frequency adverb 'mainichi'.

あには車を持っています。

My brother has a car.

Possession with 'motte imasu'.

あには来月結婚します。

My brother is getting married next month.

Future event.

あにはとても優しいです。

My brother is very kind.

Adverb 'totemo' (very).

あには大学を卒業してから、医者になりました。

My brother became a doctor after graduating from university.

Te-kara (after doing).

あには忙しいので、あまり会えません。

My brother is busy, so I can't meet him much.

Potential form 'aemasen'.

あには私より三歳年上です。

My brother is three years older than me.

Comparison 'yori'.

あには子供の時、よく私を助けてくれました。

When we were children, my brother often helped me.

Te-kureru (benefactive).

あには今、海外で生活しています。

My brother is currently living abroad.

Describing current state.

あにはピアノを弾くのが得意です。

My brother is good at playing the piano.

Nominalizing 'no' + 'tokui'.

あには将来、自分の会社を作りたいと言っています。

My brother says he wants to start his own company in the future.

Quoting 'to itte imasu'.

あには私の相談に乗ってくれます。

My brother gives me advice.

Idiom 'soudan ni noru'.

あには厳しい人ですが、本当はとても家族思いです。

My brother is a strict person, but in truth, he is very family-oriented.

Conjunction 'ga' (but).

あには反対しましたが、私は留学することにしました。

My brother opposed it, but I decided to study abroad.

Deciding with 'koto ni shimashita'.

あには努力家で、いつも遅くまで勉強しています。

My brother is a hard worker and always studies until late.

Describing personality.

あにはスポーツ万能で、何でもできます。

My brother is an all-around athlete and can do anything.

Compound word 'sports bannou'.

あには私の目標であり、尊敬する存在です。

My brother is my goal and a person I respect.

Formal 'de ari' connection.

あには昔から、リーダーシップがありました。

My brother has had leadership qualities since a long time ago.

Describing traits over time.

あには自分の夢を叶えるために、毎日頑張っています。

My brother works hard every day to fulfill his dream.

Purpose 'tame ni'.

あには私のミスを笑って許してくれました。

My brother laughed and forgave my mistake.

Compound verb 'waratte yurusu'.

あには家業を継ぐために、必死に修行を積んでいます。

My brother is training desperately to take over the family business.

Formal vocabulary 'kagyou' and 'shuugyou'.

あには寡黙な性格で、あまり感情を表に出しません。

My brother has a reticent personality and doesn't show his emotions much.

Descriptive 'kamoku' and 'hyou ni dasu'.

あには幼少期から、周囲の期待を一身に背負ってきました。

Since childhood, my brother has carried all the expectations of those around him.

Idiomatic 'isshin ni seou'.

あには私の人生において、最も影響を与えた人物です。

In my life, my brother is the person who has influenced me the most.

Formal 'ni oite'.

あには冷静沈着な判断力を持っており、頼りになります。

My brother possesses calm and collected judgment and is reliable.

Four-character idiom 'reisei chincha'.

あには、私のわがままをいつも広い心で受け止めてくれます。

My brother always accepts my selfishness with a broad mind.

Metaphorical 'hiroi kokoro'.

あには、社会的な地位を確立するために日々奔走しています。

My brother is busy every day establishing his social status.

Formal 'honsou shite imasu'.

あには、家族の絆を誰よりも大切にしています。

My brother values family bonds more than anyone else.

Emphasis 'dare yori mo'.

あには、一族の誇りを守るべく、その重責を担っています。

My brother bears the heavy responsibility of protecting the pride of the clan.

Grammar 'beku' (in order to).

あには、かつての恩師の言葉を座右の銘としています。

My brother keeps his former teacher's words as his motto.

Idiom 'zayuu no mei'.

あには、逆境にあっても決して屈しない、強靭な精神の持ち主です。

My brother is a person of strong spirit who never yields even in adversity.

Adversative 'ni atte mo'.

あには、自身の信念を貫くために、孤独な道を選びました。

My brother chose a lonely path to stand by his beliefs.

Verb 'tsuranuku' (to stick to).

あには、卓越した先見の明を持っており、業界でも一目置かれています。

My brother has outstanding foresight and is highly regarded in the industry.

Idiom 'ichimoku okarete iru'.

あには、私の成長を陰ながら見守ってくれている、かけがえのない存在です。

My brother is an irreplaceable presence who watches over my growth from the shadows.

Expression 'kage nagara'.

あには、伝統を重んじつつも、常に新しいことに挑戦し続けています。

While valuing tradition, my brother continues to challenge new things.

Conjunction 'tsutsu mo'.

あには、私の成功を自分のことのように喜んでくれます。

My brother rejoices in my success as if it were his own.

Simile 'jibun no koto no you ni'.

Common Collocations

兄に似ている

兄の影響

兄の友人

兄のお下がり

兄自慢

兄思い

兄妹

兄貴肌

兄と慕う

兄としての責任

Common Phrases

私の兄

— My elder brother. Standard way to introduce him.

私の兄を紹介します。

兄が一人います

— I have one elder brother. Common response to family questions.

家族は父と母と兄が一人います。

兄の言う通り

— As my brother says. Following his advice.

兄の言う通りにしました。

兄を探しています

— I am looking for my brother. Used in searching contexts.

迷子になった兄を探しています。

兄の後を追う

— To follow in one's brother's footsteps.

兄の後を追って同じ大学に入った。

兄に怒られる

— To get scolded by my brother.

いたずらをして兄に怒られた。

兄に相談する

— To consult with my brother.

進路について兄に相談した。

兄と一緒に

— Together with my brother.

兄と一緒に宿題をしました。

兄を見習う

— To follow my brother's example.

兄の勤勉さを見習いたい。

兄のおかげで

— Thanks to my brother.

兄のおかげで合格できました。

Often Confused With

あに vs お兄さん (Onii-san)

Used for others' brothers; 'ani' is for your own.

あに vs 姉 (Ane)

Means 'elder sister'; sounds similar to 'ani'.

あに vs 弟 (Ototo)

Means 'younger brother'; opposite of 'ani'.

Idioms & Expressions

"兄たり難く弟たり難し"

— Difficult to say who is better (between two excellent things).

この二つの作品は兄たり難く弟たり難しだ。

Literary

"実の兄のように"

— Like a real brother. Treating someone with close affection.

彼は私を実の兄のように慕っている。

Neutral

"兄貴風を吹かす"

— To act like a big brother in a patronizing or bossy way.

後輩に対して兄貴風を吹かすのは良くない。

Informal

"兄弟は他人の始まり"

— Siblings are the beginning of strangers (once they marry/move out).

昔から兄弟は他人の始まりと言うからね。

Proverb

"兄の威を借る"

— To borrow the brother's authority (similar to fox borrowing tiger's authority).

彼は兄の威を借って威張っている。

Neutral

"血を分けた兄"

— A brother shared by blood. Emphasizing a biological bond.

彼は私の血を分けた兄です。

Formal

"腹違いの兄"

— A half-brother (different mother).

私には腹違いの兄がいます。

Formal

"種違いの兄"

— A half-brother (different father).

彼とは種違いの兄です。

Formal

"一世の兄"

— A brother for a lifetime (very close friend).

君は私の一世の兄だ。

Literary

"兄は弟の鏡"

— The elder brother is a mirror for the younger (role model).

兄は弟の鏡であるべきだ。

Proverb

Easily Confused

あに vs 姉 (Ane)

Phonetic similarity.

Ane is female (sister), Ani is male (brother).

姉は美人で、兄はハンサムです。

あに vs お兄さん (Onii-san)

Both mean elder brother.

Onii-san is honorific (for others), Ani is humble (for self).

あなたのお兄さんと私の兄は友達です。

あに vs アニキ (Aniki)

Both refer to elder brother.

Aniki is casual/slang; Ani is standard.

アニキ、飯行こうぜ！

あに vs おじさん (Ojisan)

Both are older male relatives.

Ojisan is uncle; Ani is brother.

あのおじさんは兄の先生です。

あに vs 主人 (Shujin)

Both are male family members.

Shujin is husband; Ani is brother.

主人の兄に会いました。

Sentence Patterns

[Person] wa watashi no ani desu.

Kare wa watashi no ani desu.

Ani wa [Place] ni sunde imasu.

Ani wa Osaka ni sunde imasu.

Ani wa [Verb] koto ga suki desu.

Ani wa utau koto ga suki desu.

Ani wa [Adjective] node, [Result].

Ani wa yasashii node, ninki ga arimasu.

Ani no [Noun] ni yoreba, [Source].

Ani no hanashi ni yoreba, ame ga furu sou da.

Ani to shite wa, [Perspective].

Ani to shite wa, imouto ga shinpai da.

Ani ni [Noun] o moraimashita.

Ani ni tokei o moraimashita.

Ani ga [Verb] no o tetsudaimashita.

Ani ga hikkosu no o tetsudaimashita.

Word Family

Nouns

兄弟 (Kyoudai - siblings)

義兄 (Gikei - brother-in-law)

従兄 (従兄 - elder male cousin)

Adjectives

兄貴肌 (Aniki-hada - big-brotherly type)

姉 (Ane)

弟 (Ototo)

妹 (Imouto)

家族 (Kazoku)

親戚 (Shinseki)

How to Use It

frequency

High in family-related conversations.

Common Mistakes

Calling brother 'Ani' directly. → Onii-san
Inside the family, use honorifics, not the humble referential form.
Asking 'Tanaka-san no ani wa?' → Tanaka-san no onii-san wa?
Use honorifics for other people's family members.
Confusing 'Ani' and 'Ane'. → Ani (male), Ane (female)
The 'i' sound is male, the 'e' sound is female in these pairs.
Using 'Ani' for a younger brother. → Ototo
'Ani' is strictly for those born before you.
Adding 'san' to 'Ani' (Ani-san). → Ani or Onii-san
'Ani-san' is rare and usually incorrect; use 'Onii-san' instead.

Tips

The Outsider Rule

Always use 'ani' when the person you are talking to is not a family member.

A is for Ani

Remember A is the first letter, and Ani is the 'first' (older) brother.

Respecting Hierarchy

Using 'ani' shows you respect the Japanese social hierarchy by being humble about your family.

Stroke Order

Draw the mouth first, then the left leg, then the right curved leg.

Short and Sweet

Don't drag out the 'i' sound; keep it a short 'ani'.

Drop 'Watashi no'

In natural speech, you can just say 'Ani wa...' if people know you are talking about yourself.

Context Clues

If you hear 'ani' in a story, the narrator is likely talking about their own brother.

No Plurals

Don't add 's'. Use numbers like 'ani ga futari' for two brothers.

Kanji Recognition

Look for the 'legs' (儿) to distinguish it from other square-topped kanji.

The Safe Choice

When in doubt during an introduction, 'ani' is the safest, most polite choice.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Ani' as 'A Number 1' (A-N-I). He is the first son, the elder one.

Visual Association

Imagine a tall man (elder brother) standing next to a smaller child. The tall man has a big mouth (the kanji 兄) because he gives instructions.

Word Web

Family Elder Male Humble Uchi Sibling Kanji: 兄 Referential

Challenge

Try to introduce an imaginary elder brother to three different people using 'Ani wa... desu'.

Word Origin

Ancient Japanese (Yamato Kotoba). The word 'ani' has been used for centuries to denote a senior male relative.

Original meaning: Originally referred to any senior male in a group, not just biological siblings.

Japonic.

Cultural Context

Be careful not to use 'ani' for a younger brother; it is strictly for those older than you.

In English, we just say 'my brother' regardless of who we talk to. In Japanese, the word changes based on social distance.

Uchiha Itachi (Sasuke's 'ani' in Naruto) The concept of 'Aniki' in Yakuza films The 'Onii-sama' trope in anime (a very polite version)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Self-introduction

兄が一人います。
兄の名前は...
兄は[Job]です。
兄と二人暮らしです。

Talking to a teacher

兄がお世話になりました。
兄に聞きました。
兄の母校です。
兄もこちらに通っていました。

Business meeting

兄の会社です。
兄から連絡がありました。
兄の紹介で...
兄が参ります。

Casual chat with a new friend

兄は結婚しています。
兄は面白い人です。
兄に似てると言われます。
兄と仲が良いです。

Filling out a form

続柄：兄
氏名：[Name]
職業：[Job]
住所：[Address]

Conversation Starters

"ご兄弟はいますか？私は兄が一人います。"

"私の兄はエンジニアなのですが、あなたのご兄弟は？"

"兄とよく映画に行くのですが、お勧めはありますか？"

"最近、兄が結婚したんですよ。"

"兄から聞いたのですが、このお店は有名だそうですね。"

Journal Prompts

あなたの兄（または想像上の兄）について詳しく書いてください。

兄と過ごした一番の思い出は何ですか？

兄とあなたの性格はどう違いますか？

兄から学んだ大切なことは何ですか？

もし兄がいなかったら、あなたの人生はどう変わっていましたか？

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, that would be very cold and unnatural. Use 'Onii-san' or 'Onii-chan' inside the family.

It is 'humble' (Kenjou), which is a form of politeness used when talking to outsiders about your family.

It is 兄. It has 5 strokes.

Yes, it can be used for an older brother-in-law, though 'giri no ani' is more specific.

You can say 'ani-tachi' or just 'ani' if the context is clear.

Never. For a younger brother, use 'ototo'.

'Ani' is one specific elder brother; 'kyoudai' means siblings in general.

Yes, but it sounds more like 'bro' in English—cool and informal.

Say 'Watashi no ani no [Name] desu'.

That is extremely formal and often used in high-class or stylized settings, not common in real life.