兄あに分ぶん

noun

sworn elder brother; senior brother figure

Refers to a man treated as an older brother in a hierarchical, often non-blood, relationship, such as in yakuza or traditional craftsman circles. Contrasts with 弟分 (sworn younger brother).

See also: 弟分

• 彼かれは組くみの中なかで兄あに分ぶんとして慕したわれている。

  He is looked up to as the sworn elder brother within the group.

noun

older male partner in a homosexual relationship

Used in some contexts to refer to the older or more senior male partner in a male homosexual relationship. This usage is less common and may be considered dated or specific to certain subcultures.

• その界かい隈わいでは、彼かれは兄あに分ぶんと呼よばれることがある。

  In that circle, he is sometimes called the older partner.