Familiar term for one's elder brother. It is more casual, rough, or affectionate than 兄, and may carry a respectful feeling toward the older brother rather than being polite speech.
うちの兄貴は東京で働いている。
My older brother works in Tokyo.
Big bro, I need to ask you about something.
senior; older-brother figure
Used for a senior or respected older-brother-like figure in a group. It sounds familiar and often masculine; in ordinary school or workplace contexts, 先輩 is the safer neutral word.
Everyone affectionately calls the senior at work 'Aniki.'
older man; older guy
Colloquial way to refer to a man older than oneself, often with a rough, streetwise, or familiar flavor rather than a neutral description of age.
A tough-looking older guy was standing in front of the shop.
His juniors looked up to him and called him 'big brother.'
He's like a big brother to me.
先輩 is the neutral, widely appropriate word for a senior in school or work, while 兄貴 used this way is slangier and often masculine.
兄貴 is the standard word for an older brother or a respected senior male, while ニキ is internet slang derived from it, used as a casual suffix for a trusted online peer.
兄貴 is a rougher, more masculine or gang-style term for an older brother compared to the warmer, more general 兄さん.
兄貴 is a rougher, more masculine way to say 'older brother', often used among young men, whereas 兄ちゃん sounds more childlike and affectionate.
お兄さん is the polite, friendly way to refer to an older brother or young man, whereas 兄貴 is rougher and more familiar in tone.
The everyday counter for people: 一人 (ひとり), 二人 (ふたり), 三人 (さんにん).
More formal than 人 — used for headcounts in reservations, staff lists, and announcements (5名様).
senior group member; leader among peers · like an older brother; big brother
Standard kanji spelling. The word is familiar and often masculine or rough-sounding, but can also imply affection or respect.
Attested katakana spelling. Often emphasizes a colloquial, affectionate, manga-like, or rough tone.
Written with 兄, 'elder brother,' and 貴, a character associated with honor or respect. The spelling reflects the word's respectful or affectionate older-brother nuance; the exact historical development is not specified.