姉ねえ

ね

え

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

familiar language

Familiar suffix attached to a name or title to address or refer to an older sister or a close older female figure. Used in casual, affectionate contexts.

花はな子こ姉ねえ、ちょっと手伝てつだってくれる？
Hanako-nee, can you help me a bit?
お姉ねえちゃんは優やさしいねえ。
My older sister is so kind.

See all 38 example sentences ›

Kanji

姉elder sister

Related words

おい
ねえ is a softer, gender-neutral way to get someone's attention, while おい sounds rougher and is typically used by men.
ヘイ
ねえ is softer and often used by women or to gently get attention, whereas ヘイ is more casual and masculine.
あのね
ねえ calls for the listener's attention like あのね, but あのね more strongly signals that the speaker is about to explain or confide something.

Word family· 9

姉ねえさんN1
older sister; elder sister · young lady; miss · miss; waitress; bar woman · ma'am; senior woman
姉ねえちゃん
older sister; elder sister · girl; young woman
ねえや
young lady; miss
お姉ねえ
elder sister · effeminate man; camp gay man
お姉ねえさんN5
older sister; elder sister · young lady; miss · waitress; miss · ma'am; senior geisha · older girl

Show 4 more

継まま姉ねえ
elder stepsister
姉ねえさま
older sister; elder sister
小ちい姉ねえさん
youngest older sister
お義ね姉えさん
sister-in-law (older) · older stepsister; older adopted sister; non-blood-related older sister

Written forms

姉ねえUsage3%
Standard kanji spelling for the suffix meaning 'older sister' in familiar language.
ねえUsage82%
Kana spelling is common in casual writing, especially when the suffix is used without a name.
ネエUsage15%

Etymology

Derived from the older sister term あね, with sound change to ねえ in familiar usage. The kanji 姉 is used for its meaning 'older sister'.