Japanese symbol for “brother”
兄さん
にいさん
Romaji: niisan
older brother; elder brother
In Japanese, brother is 兄さん, read にいさん (niisan).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n older brother; elder brother
- n brother (as older-brother figure in friendly and or work relationship)
- n young man; buddy; fella; laddie
Written forms: 兄さん. Readings: にいさん、あにさん.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “brother”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ブラザー | ブラザー burazaa | brother |
| ブラザー | ブラザー burazaa | Brother |
| 入満 | イルマン iruman | brother; lay brother; non-ordained member of a Christian religious order |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 兄弟 | きょうだい kyoudai | brothers and sisters; siblings |
| 兄貴 | あにき aniki | elder brother; big brother |
| 兄ちゃん | にいちゃん niichan | (one's) older brother |
| 義兄 | ぎけい gikei | brother-in-law (spouse's older brother or older sister's husband) |
See also: Chinese symbol for “brother”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.