Skip to content
Kotomora

姐

elder sister, maidservant

Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • ソ
  • シャ

Kun'yomi

  • あね
  • ねえさん

Meaning

姐 centers on a female figure in a familial or domestic role: an elder sister or a maidservant. Both meanings share the idea of a woman in a close, supportive position.

Study

Etymology

姐 combines 女 (woman) with 且, which likely contributes the sound. The exact historical development of 且 in this character is uncertain, but the structure suggests a phono-semantic compound related to a female role.

Meaning mnemonic

A woman 女 beside 且, which looks like a shelf or a helper. Picture an elder sister or maidservant standing by, ready to assist.

Reading mnemonic

For ソ, imagine the elder sister sewing a button: sew -> ソ, and her hands work like a maidservant's.