兄さん
also: あにさん
Meanings
Honorific term for one's own older brother or someone else's older brother. Often used with the polite prefix お (お兄さん) in more formal contexts.
See also: お兄さん
My older brother lives abroad now.
How old is your older brother?
brother figure; older-brother type
Used for a male acquaintance or colleague treated like an older brother, often in friendly or work relationships. Can be used with or without the polite prefix お.
I consulted a brother-like figure at work.
Familiar, often vocative term for a young man, similar to 'buddy' or 'pal'. Usually used by an older speaker addressing a younger man. It is typically vocative.
Hey buddy, can you give me a hand?
Usage patterns
- 〈人〉を兄さんと呼ぶto call someone 'big brother' or 'buddy'
The neighborhood kids call him 'big brother'.
- 兄さん、〈動詞〉hey buddy/young man, (do something) — used to address a young man
Hey there, could you give me directions?
- 〈人〉を兄さんのように頼るto rely on someone like an older brother
She relies on her senior colleague like an older brother figure.