子し弟てい

し

て

い

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

children; sons; younger family members

Refers to one's own children or younger brothers, often in a familial or hierarchical context. The literal gloss 'children and younger brothers' captures the compound's components.

彼かれは子し弟ていの教きょう育いくに熱ねっ心しんだ。
He is enthusiastic about the education of his children and younger brothers.

noun

young people; youth

A broader, somewhat formal usage referring to young people in general, not necessarily one's own family. Often used in educational or social contexts.

この学がっ校こうは地ち域いきの子し弟ていを受うけ入いれている。
This school accepts young people from the local area.

See all 12 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉の子し弟ていthe children/young relatives of a family or person of standing
彼かれは名めい家かの子し弟ていとして育そだった。
He was raised as a son of a distinguished family.
子し弟ていを教きょう育いくするto educate the young (esp. as a group under one's charge)
この学がっ校こうは地ち域いきの子し弟ていを教きょう育いくしてきた。
This school has educated the young people of the community.

Kanji

子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM
弟younger brother, faithful service to elders

Related words

子こ供どもN5sense 1
子供 is the everyday, neutral word for a child, while 子弟 is a formal term for one's own children or younger family members, often in a hierarchical context.
若わか者ものN2sense 2
若者 is the common word for young people in general, whereas 子弟 in its broader sense is a more formal term often implying guidance or patronage.

Don't confuse with

師し弟ていN1
師弟 (same reading as 子弟) means a teacher-and-pupil relationship, while 子弟 refers to children or young family members.
兄きょう弟だいN5sense 1
兄弟 shares the kanji 弟 with 子弟 but means siblings, whereas 子弟 means children or younger family members collectively.

Counted with

人にん
counter for people

Etymology

Compound of 子 (child) and 弟 (younger brother), originally referring to one's children and younger brothers. The broader sense of 'young people' developed from this familial core.