弟おとうと

also: てい

お

と

う

と

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

noun

younger brother; little brother

Ordinary family term for a male sibling younger than the reference person. As a standalone word it is normally read おとうと; てい is not the usual everyday reading.

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉には弟おとうとがいるsomeone has a younger brother
彼かれには弟おとうとが二人ふたりいる。
He has two younger brothers.
〈人ひと〉の弟おとうとにあたるto be someone's younger brother (in a family relationship)
彼かれは私わたしの夫おっとの弟おとうとにあたる。
He is my husband's younger brother.
弟おとうとのように〈動どう詞し〉to treat/act toward someone like a younger brother
彼かれを弟おとうとのようにかわいがっている。
I care for him like a younger brother.

Kanji

弟younger brother, faithful service to elders

Related words

義ぎ弟てい sense 2
義弟 explicitly means 'younger brother-in-law,' making the relationship clear, whereas 弟 can carry that meaning only from context.
弟おとN1
弟 (おと) is an archaic word for a younger sibling of the same sex, while 弟 (おとうと) is the modern standard word for 'younger brother'.
ブラザー
弟 is the standard word for a younger brother, whereas ブラザー is an age-neutral loanword often used in a Western or affectionate sense.
実じっ弟てい
弟 is the everyday, unmarked word for 'younger brother', whereas 実弟 explicitly stresses the blood relationship and is used in more formal or clarifying contexts.

Opposites

兄あにN5sense 1
兄 means an older brother, the age-direction opposite of 弟 (a younger brother).
兄あに貴き
弟 means younger brother, the direct opposite of 兄貴 meaning older brother.

Politeness

弟おとうとさんpolite 丁寧語sense 1
弟 refers to one's own younger brother, while 弟さん is the polite form used to talk about someone else's younger brother.

Don't confuse with

弟で子しN1sense 3
弟子 is the everyday modern word for 'pupil' or 'apprentice,' while 弟 in that sense (read てい) is archaic and rarely used today.
妹いもうと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.

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· 10

弟おとうと分ぶん
sworn younger brother; junior male peer
弟おとうと弟で子し
younger pupil (of the same master); younger disciple; junior member
弟おとうと君ぎみ
younger brother (polite, archaic)
弟おとうと娘むすめ
younger daughter
弟おとうと嫁よめ
younger brother's wife; sister-in-law (younger brother's spouse)

Show 5 more

弟おとうと御ご
your younger brother
弟おとうとさん
younger brother (honorific)
弟おとうと夫ふう婦ふ
one's younger brother and his wife
弟おとうと息子むすこ
younger son
弟おとうと殺ごろし
killing one's younger brother; fratricide

Written forms

弟Usage99%
- おとうと
  Standard, common spelling and reading for 'younger brother' and related family uses.
- てい
  Attested alternate reading. It is not the normal everyday reading for the standalone word; in the 'pupil; apprentice' sense it is archaic.
おとうとUsage1%
Kana spelling is practical in casual, learner-facing, or child-oriented writing, though the kanji 弟 is very common.
ていUsage<1%

Etymology

弟 is the conventional kanji for 'younger brother.' おとうと is the common native Japanese reading, while てい is a Sino-Japanese reading; the deeper historical derivation of おとうと is uncertain here.