妹 (いもうと, imouto) Japanese meaning: younger sister | Kotomora

妹 (いもうと, imouto) Japanese meaning: younger sister | Kotomora

Kanji

妹younger sister

Related words

シスター
妹 is the standard word for a younger sister, whereas シスター does not distinguish older from younger and sounds translated or unusual in this sense.
弟おとN1
弟 (おと) archaically covered a younger sibling of either sex when speaking of a same-sex sibling, whereas 妹 is the modern word specifically for 'younger sister'.

Opposites· 5

姉あねN5
姉 is one's own older sister, while 妹 is one's own younger sister.
姉ねえさんN1
姉さん means one's older sister, while 妹 means one's younger sister, the direct opposite family relation.
姉ねえちゃん
妹 means 'younger sister', the direct opposite of 姉ちゃん's 'older sister' sense.

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兄にいちゃん
妹 means 'younger sister', the opposite family relation to the 'older brother' sense of 兄ちゃん.
お姉ねえさんN5
妹 means 'younger sister', the direct opposite of お姉さん's 'older sister' sense.

Politeness

妹いもうとさんpolite 丁寧語
妹 is the plain word for one's own younger sister, while 妹さん is the polite form used when referring to someone else's younger sister.

Don't confuse with

弟おとうとN5
妹 means younger sister and 弟 means younger brother; learners often mix up which kanji goes with which gender since both refer to a younger sibling.
義ぎ妹まい
妹 is a biological younger sister, whereas 義妹 is a younger sister by marriage or remarriage/adoption, not by blood.
姉し妹まいN3
妹 names one specific younger sister, whereas 姉妹 refers to the collective sister relationship, not a single sibling.

Counted with

人にん
The everyday counter for people: 一人 (ひとり), 二人 (ふたり), 三人 (さんにん).
名めいN2
More formal than 人 — used for headcounts in reservations, staff lists, and announcements (5名様).

Word family· 7

妹いもうと分ぶん
sworn younger sister; protegee treated as a younger sister
妹いもうと君ぎみ
(younger) sister (honorific)
妹いもうと娘むすめ
younger daughter
妹いもうと婿むこ
younger sister's husband; brother-in-law (younger sister's spouse)

Written forms

妹いもうとUsage99%
Standard kanji spelling.
いもうとUsage1%

Etymology

The kanji 妹 is composed of 女 (woman) and 未 (not yet), suggesting a woman who is not yet fully grown, i.e., a younger sister. The reading いもうと is of native Japanese origin.