姉し妹まい

Written forms

• 姉妹Usage100%iUsage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
  • しまい

    Standard kanji spelling for 'sisters'.

  • きょうだい

    gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
• きょうだい
  gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun

  Gikun reading; used in some contexts to refer to sisters, but しまい is the standard reading.

Kanji

• 姉elder sister
• 妹younger sister

Similar words

• 兄きょう弟だい

  兄弟 refers to brothers or siblings in general (including mixed-gender), while 姉妹 specifically means sisters.

• 姉あね

  姉 means 'older sister' specifically, while 姉妹 refers to the sister relationship collectively.

• 妹いもうと

  妹 means 'younger sister' specifically, while 姉妹 refers to the sister relationship collectively.

Etymology

Compound of 姉 (older sister) and 妹 (younger sister), representing the sister relationship.