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兄けい弟てい

け

い

て

い

Meanings

1

brothers; older and younger brothers

formal or literary

Formal or literary term specifically for brothers (male siblings), as opposed to the common きょうだい which can refer to siblings of any gender.

兄けい弟ていの情じょうは深ふかかった。
The affection between the brothers was deep.
兄けい弟ていの絆きずなは強つよい。
The bond between brothers is strong.

Expressions

四し海かい兄けい弟ていuniversal brotherhood; all people are brothers
兄けい弟てい牆かきに鬩せめぐto quarrel among friends or siblings

Kanji

兄elder brother, big brother
弟younger brother, faithful service to elders

Related words

兄きょう弟だい
きょうだい is the common reading for 兄弟 and can refer to siblings in general (brothers and/or sisters), while けいてい is a formal/literary reading that specifically means brothers.
姉し妹まい
姉妹 (しまい) means sisters, the female counterpart to 兄弟 (けいてい).

Word family

三さん従じゅう兄けい弟てい
second cousin

Etymology

The kanji 兄 (elder brother) and 弟 (younger brother) combine to form 兄弟. The reading けいてい uses the on'yomi of both characters, giving it a formal, literary feel compared to the kun'yomi-based きょうだい.