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What is the Kanji for 'Younger brother'? | 弟

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Younger brother', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Younger brother' is 弟.

    kanji

    弟

    Meaning

    Younger brother

    Reading

    kunyomiおとうと

    otouto

    onyomiだい

    dai

    てい

    tei

    Parts

    丷Divide 丿Katakana no 丨Stick 弓Bow

    Example Word

    弟: younger brother. The Japanese noun '弟 (おとうと)' means 'younger brother'. It specifically refers to a male sibling who is younger than the speaker. This term is commonly used in family contexts and is neutral in tone. For example: my younger brother is kind「私の弟は優しい」(わたしのおとうとはやさしい). I have a younger brother「私は弟がいます」(わたしはおとうとがいます). Note that '弟' is used only for younger brothers; older brothers are referred to as '兄 (あに)'. The term does not change based on the speaker's gender.

    Radical

    弓

    Stroke Count

    7

    JLPT

    N4

    Grade

    2

    Frequency

    518

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji 弟

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 4 parts:

    radical

    丷

    Meaning

    Divide

    radical

    丿

    Meaning

    Katakana no

    radical

    丨

    Meaning

    Stick

    kanji

    弓

    Meaning

    Bow

弟 As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of one other kanji:

    kanji

    第

    Meaning

    Ordinal number

Words Using 弟

This kanji is used in 3 words:

    word

    弟子

    Meaning

    Disciple

    word

    弟

    Meaning

    Younger brother

    word

    兄弟

    Meaning

    Siblings

Kanji Related to 弟 Through the Part 丷

These 10 kanji contain the part 丷 as well.

    kanji

    平

    Meaning

    Flat

    kanji

    米

    Meaning

    Rice

    kanji

    率

    Meaning

    Command, Proportion

    kanji

    半

    Meaning

    Half

    kanji

    羊

    Meaning

    Sheep

    kanji

    摂

    Meaning

    Take in, Vicarious

    kanji

    火

    Meaning

    Fire

    kanji

    金

    Meaning

    Gold

    kanji

    帝

    Meaning

    Emperor, Sovereign

    kanji

    曽

    Meaning

    Formerly

Kanji Related to 弟 Through the Part 丿

These 31 kanji contain the part 丿 as well.

    kanji

    自

    Meaning

    Self

    kanji

    少

    Meaning

    Few

    kanji

    女

    Meaning

    Woman

    kanji

    介

    Meaning

    Mediate, Jammed in

    kanji

    身

    Meaning

    Body, Self

    kanji

    八

    Meaning

    Eight

    kanji

    川

    Meaning

    River

    kanji

    月

    Meaning

    Moon, Month

    kanji

    失

    Meaning

    Lose, Fault

    kanji

    寿

    Meaning

    Longevity, Congratulations

    kanji

    赤

    Meaning

    Red

    kanji

    心

    Meaning

    Heart

    kanji

    卑

    Meaning

    Mean, Lowly

    kanji

    人

    Meaning

    Person

    kanji

    向

    Meaning

    Facing, Yonder

    kanji

    番

    Meaning

    Turn

    kanji

    千

    Meaning

    Thousand

    kanji

    乏

    Meaning

    Scanty, Scarce

    kanji

    九

    Meaning

    Nine

    kanji

    手

    Meaning

    Hand

    kanji

    才

    Meaning

    Talent, Age (counter)

    kanji

    刀

    Meaning

    Sword

    kanji

    先

    Meaning

    Before, Previous

    kanji

    毛

    Meaning

    Fur

    kanji

    入

    Meaning

    Enter

    kanji

    血

    Meaning

    Blood

    kanji

    白

    Meaning

    White

    kanji

    羞

    Meaning

    Feel ashamed

    kanji

    朱

    Meaning

    Vermillion

    kanji

    必

    Meaning

    Inevitable, Certain

    kanji

    力

    Meaning

    Power

Kanji Related to 弟 Through the Part 丨

These 25 kanji contain the part 丨 as well.

    kanji

    旧

    Meaning

    Old, Past

    kanji

    馬

    Meaning

    Horse

    kanji

    山

    Meaning

    Mountain

    kanji

    申

    Meaning

    Report

    kanji

    中

    Meaning

    Center

    kanji

    介

    Meaning

    Mediate, Jammed in

    kanji

    川

    Meaning

    River

    kanji

    長

    Meaning

    Long, Leader

    kanji

    面

    Meaning

    Face, Surface

    kanji

    用

    Meaning

    Use

    kanji

    止

    Meaning

    Stop

    kanji

    皿

    Meaning

    Plate

    kanji

    竹

    Meaning

    Bamboo

    kanji

    門

    Meaning

    Gate

    kanji

    十

    Meaning

    Ten

    kanji

    弔

    Meaning

    Mourn, Condolence

    kanji

    声

    Meaning

    Voice

    kanji

    串

    Meaning

    Spit, Skewer

    kanji

    作

    Meaning

    Make

    kanji

    候

    Meaning

    Climate

    kanji

    耳

    Meaning

    Ear

    kanji

    曲

    Meaning

    Music, Bend

    kanji

    北

    Meaning

    North

    kanji

    鹿

    Meaning

    Deer

    kanji

    引

    Meaning

    Pull

Kanji Related to 弟 Through the Part 弓

These 9 kanji contain the part 弓 as well.

    kanji

    張

    Meaning

    Spread, Stretch

    kanji

    弥

    Meaning

    Increasing

    kanji

    弔

    Meaning

    Mourn, Condolence

    kanji

    弱

    Meaning

    Weak

    kanji

    弧

    Meaning

    Arc, Arch

    kanji

    弾

    Meaning

    Bullet, Projectile

    kanji

    引

    Meaning

    Pull

    kanji

    弦

    Meaning

    String, Bowstring

    kanji

    強

    Meaning

    Strong

Learn the Kanji 弟

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 弟 mean?

弟 means 'Younger brother'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Second Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N4 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.