Translation guide
Expressing that someone or something is older in age, or comparing relative age. Japanese uses different words for older siblings, older people in general, and for describing age differences.
Referring to one's own older brother or sister, or someone else's older sibling.
Used to refer to one's own older brother when speaking to someone outside the family. Humble.
My older brother lives in Tokyo.
Used to refer to one's own older sister when speaking to someone outside the family. Humble.
姉は医者です。
My older sister is a doctor.
Polite way to refer to someone else's older brother, or to address one's own older brother directly.
お兄さんはおいくつですか。
How old is your older brother?
Polite way to refer to someone else's older sister, or to address one's own older sister directly.
お姉さんはとても親切ですね。
Your older sister is very kind.
General term for siblings. Can be used to ask if someone has older siblings, but does not specify gender.
兄弟はいますか。
Do you have any siblings?
Describing someone who is older in age, not necessarily a sibling.
Means 'older' in terms of age. Used for friends, colleagues, or anyone older than you.
彼は私より年上です。
He is older than me.
Attributive form meaning 'older'. Used before nouns.
年上の友達がたくさんいます。
I have many older friends.
Refers to someone senior in a school, workplace, or organization. Implies respect and a hierarchical relationship.
Polite term for elderly people. Not used for someone just a few years older.
Comparing ages, stating that one thing is older than another.
Pattern for 'A is older than B'. Use 年上 for people.
姉は私より3歳年上です。
My older sister is three years older than me.
For objects, buildings, etc., use 古い (old, not new).
この寺はあの寺より古いです。
This temple is older than that one.
Formal term for 'older' or 'senior', often used in official contexts like school grades.
Referring to an older version of software, a car model, etc.
General word for 'old' (not new). Can be used for things, versions, models.
古いバージョンを使っています。
I'm using an older version.
Means 'older model' or 'old type', often for machines or vehicles.
旧型のパソコンは安いです。
Older model computers are cheap.
古い (furui) means 'old' for objects, not people. Using it for a person would mean 'outdated' or 'old-fashioned', which can be rude. Use 年上 (toshiue) for age comparison.
彼は古い人です。
He is an old-fashioned person. (Not 'He is an older person.')
兄 (ani) and 姉 (ane) are humble forms used when talking about your own older siblings to outsiders. お兄さん (oniisan) and お姉さん (oneesan) are polite forms used for others' siblings or when addressing your own directly. Using the wrong form can sound rude or overly familiar.
兄は先生です。
My older brother is a teacher.
彼女は私より2歳年上です。
She is two years older than me.
この建物はあの建物より古いです。
This building is older than that one.
彼は大学の先輩です。
He is my senior from university.
お年寄りに席を譲りましょう。
Let's give up our seats for the elderly.
年長の子供たちが面倒を見ます。
The older children take care of the younger ones.