ε¦Ή

JLPT N4

Younger sister

Readings

On’yomi: γƒžγ‚€ (mai)
Kun’yomi: いもうと (imouto)
β€’ いもうと (imōto) – younger sister

Vocabulary

ε¦Ή
いもうと
younger sister
姉妹
しまい
sisters
妹さん
いもうとさん
younger sister (polite)
ηΎ©ε¦Ή
γŽγΎγ„
sister-in-law
末妹
ま぀まい
youngest sister

Example Sentences

ε¦Ήγ―ε­¦η”Ÿγ§γ™γ€‚
いもうと は γŒγγ›γ„ です。
My younger sister is a student.
ε§‰ε¦ΉγŒγ„γΎγ™γ€‚
しまい が います。
I have sisters.
ε¦Ήγ•γ‚“γ«δΌšγ„γΎγ™γ€‚
いもうとさん に あいます。
I meet my younger sister.
義妹と話します。
γŽγΎγ„ と はγͺします。
I talk with my sister-in-law.
ζœ«ε¦ΉγŒγ„γΎγ™γ€‚
ま぀まい が います。
I have a youngest sister.

Cultural Note

πŸ‘§ ε¦Ή highlights the importance of family hierarchy in Japanese culture.
β€’ Japanese language often differentiates siblings by age and gender, using specific words like:
o ε…„οΌˆγ‚γ«οΌ‰β€“ older brother
o εΌŸοΌˆγŠγ¨γ†γ¨οΌ‰β€“ younger brother
o ε§‰οΌˆγ‚γ­οΌ‰β€“ older sister
o ε¦ΉοΌˆγ„γ‚‚γ†γ¨οΌ‰β€“ younger sister
β€’ Honorifics are important β€” e.g., β€œγŠε§‰γ•γ‚“β€ vs β€œγŠε¦Ήγ•γ‚“β€ in polite speech.
β€’ Terms like 姉妹 (sisters) are used not just for family but also metaphorically for close female friendships or paired entities (e.g., towns, companies).