従じゅう兄けい

also: いとこ

じゅ

う

け

い

JLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun

older male cousin

Specifically refers to a male cousin who is older than the speaker. Compare 従弟 (younger male cousin), 従姉 (older female cousin), and 従妹 (younger female cousin).

Written forms

従兄Usage100%
- じゅうけい
  Standard kanji spelling for an older male cousin.
- いとこ
  gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
いとこ
gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the specific cousin relationship is clear from context or not important.

Kanji

従accompany, obey, submit to
兄elder brother, big brother

Similar words

従じゅう弟てい
Refers to a younger male cousin, while 従兄 is an older male cousin.
従じゅう姉し
Refers to an older female cousin, while 従兄 is male.
従じゅう妹まい
Refers to a younger female cousin, while 従兄 is male and older.
いとこ
General term for cousin, not specifying gender or age. 従兄 is a more precise written form.

Etymology

Compound of 従 (じゅう, 'follow; secondary') and 兄 (けい, 'older brother'), literally 'secondary older brother', reflecting the traditional kinship hierarchy.