Translation and Meaning of: 姉 - ane

If you are studying Japanese, you may have come across the word 姉 (あね), which means "older sister." But do you know how this kanji originated, how it is used in everyday life, or even how to memorize it without struggle? Here at Suki Nihongo, in addition to explaining the etymology and meaning, you will discover practical sentences to include in your Anki and tips to never forget this word. Let's dive into the details that make this expression so unique in the Japanese language.

Etymology and Origin of the Kanji 姉

The kanji 姉 is composed of two radicals: 女 (onna), which means "woman," and 市 (ichi), which originally represented a market or exchange. The combination of these elements suggests an idea of "woman who cares" or "one who has responsibilities," reflecting the traditional role of the older sister in the Japanese family. Interestingly, this construction is not so obvious at first glance, but it makes perfect sense once you understand the historical context.

In ancient writing, the character already appeared in texts like the Manyoshu, one of the earliest collections of poetry in Japan. Contrary to what many believe, it does not have a direct relation to kanjis like 妹 (imōto, younger sister), but shares the same cultural root of family hierarchy. If you look closely, the curved stroke on the right side of the kanji 姉 almost looks like a person bowing — could this have to do with respect?

Everyday Lies and Cultural Nuances

Calling someone あね in Japan goes far beyond indicating kinship. Unlike Portuguese, where "sister" can be used generically, the Japanese often add suffixes like -さん or -ちゃん to show affection or respect. For example, あねちゃん sounds more affectionate, while あねさん is neutral and polite. But be careful: using just "あね" without a suffix can sound cold, unless it’s with close family members.

A little-known fact is that often the Japanese prefer to use おねえさん (onee-san) instead of あね, especially when referring to the older sisters of other people. This happens because the term carries a more polite connotation. In animes and dramas, you'll hear this variation quite a bit — who hasn't laughed at the classic scene where the younger brother shouts "ねえさん、待って！" (Nee-san, matte!) while running after her?

Tips for Memorizing and Common Mistakes

To avoid confusing 姉 with similar kanjis like 妹 (younger sister), an infallible technique is to associate the radical 女 with the maternal figure. Imagine that the "older sister" (あね) is the one who has a small "market" (市) of experiences to share. Another trick is to remember that the upper horizontal stroke in 姉 looks like an extended arm — after all, who hasn't been pulled by their older sister to tidy up their own mess?

A common mistake among students is trying to use あね to refer to any older woman, as if it were an equivalent to "madam." In fact, the term is strictly familial or used among very close friends. If you call your boss あね, be prepared for some puzzled looks! Always prefer senpai or the name followed by -san in such cases.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 姉 (ane) - Older sister
• 姐 (ane) - older sister (informal, used in more familiar contexts)
• あね (ane) - Older sister
• あねさん (anesan) - older sister (respectful form)
• お姉さん (oneesan) - older sister (used to refer to another person with respect)
• おねえさん (oneesan) - older sister (informal user, more common in speech)

姉

Romaji: ane
Kana: あね
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: Older sister

Meaning in English: older sister

Definition: Women refer to older women than themselves.

Example Sentences - (姉) ane

See below some example sentences:

お姉さんはとても優しい人です。

Oneesan wa totemo yasashii hito desu

The older sister is a very kind person.

Your sister is a very kind person.

• お姉さん - honorific for "big sister"
• は - Topic particle
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 優しい - adjective meaning "kind"
• 人 - noun that means "person"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

私の従姉妹はとても美しいです。

Watashi no jōshimai wa totemo utsukushii desu

My cousin is very beautiful.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession, in this case, "mine"
• 従姉妹 (joushimai) - noun meaning "second cousin"
• は (wa) - particle indicating the topic of the sentence, in this case, "my second cousin"
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very"
• 美しい (utsukushii) - adjective meaning "beautiful"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the present tense and formality of the sentence

私の姉妹はとても仲が良いです。

Watashi no shimai wa totemo naka ga yoi desu

My sisters are very close.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• の (no) - possession particle in Japanese, indicating that the next word is possessed by "me"
• 姉妹 (shimai) - means "sisters" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle in Japanese, indicating that the subject of the sentence is "sisters"
• とても (totemo) - adverb in Japanese, meaning "a lot"
• 仲 (naka) - means "relationship" in Japanese
• が (ga) - subject particle in Japanese, indicating that "relationship" is the subject of the sentence
• 良い (yoi) - Japanese adjective meaning "good"
• です (desu) - verb to be in Japanese, indicating that the sentence is in the present tense and is affirmative

私の姉はとても優しいです。

Watashi no ane wa totemo yasashii desu

My older sister is very kind.

My sister is very kind.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• の (no) - particle indicating possession, in this case "my"
• 姉 (ane) - means "older sister" in Japanese
• は (wa) - particle indicating the topic of the sentence, in this case "my sister"
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very"
• 優しい (yasashii) - adjective meaning "gentle" or "kind"
• です (desu) - linking verb that indicates the state or quality of the subject, in this case "is"