noun
darling; dear; honey; my betrothed
Archaic familiar term used by a man to address his wife, lover, or betrothed woman. Not used in modern Japanese.
古い和歌では、夫が妻を「妹」と呼ぶことがある。
In old waka poems, a husband sometimes calls his wife 'imo'.
noun
one's sister
Archaic term for one's own sister, especially a younger sister. Modern Japanese uses 妹 (いもうと).
古典文学では、「妹」は自分の妹を指すことが多い。
In classical literature, 'imo' often refers to one's own sister.
noun
Archaic familiar term used by women to address a close female friend. Extremely rare and obsolete.
昔の女性同士の手紙では、「妹」が親しい友を意味することがあった。
In old letters between women, 'imo' could mean a close friend.
Modern standard word for 'younger sister'. The archaic reading いも is no longer used in everyday speech.
The reading いも is an archaic form of いもうと (younger sister). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the kanji 妹 is conventionally associated with the meaning 'younger sister'.