お兄さん
Meanings
1
Honorific term for one's own or someone else's older brother. Used both to address and to refer to an older brother politely.
See also: 兄さん
Is your older brother a university student?
Hey big brother, can you help me a bit?
2
familiar language
Familiar, often vocative term for a young man whose name one does not know, similar to 'buddy' or 'young man'. Used in casual, friendly address.
See also: 兄さん
Hey there, young man, could you tell me the way?
That fella is always so energetic, isn't he.
Usage patterns
- お兄さんに似るto resemble one's older brother
He looks a lot like his older brother.
- すみません、お兄さんused to politely call out to a young man whose name you don't know
Excuse me, sir, is this the right way?