The Meaning of otouto [弟] In Japanese

弟
おとうと
Romaji: otouto N5

What does 弟 mean?

Translation and Meaning

younger brother, little brother

Definition

弟 (otouto) means a younger brother; it denotes a male sibling who is younger than the speaker or the person being referred to and functions as a basic kinship term used to identify family relation in everyday Japanese speech and writing.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • 1. Used affectionately or familiarly to refer to a younger male close to the speaker who is not necessarily a blood relative (figurative ‘little brother’).
  • 2. Appears in compound words and set expressions to indicate a junior, apprentice, or subordinate role rather than strictly a familial relationship.
  • 3. Can carry an informal, intimate tone when referencing younger males within social groups, clubs, or teams.

Origin

Kinship terminology differentiating older and younger siblings has long been integral to Japanese social organization; terms like 弟 (otouto) appear in classical Japanese records and reflect Confucian-influenced family hierarchies that emphasized precise relational vocabulary for household roles and filial order.

Composition

The single kanji 弟 (otouto) is written as one character that historically combines graphic elements conveying smallness and subordination to express the concept of a younger male sibling; in modern reading it stands alone as the lexical unit for ‘younger brother’ rather than a compound of independent kanji.

Usage

Commonly used when talking about one’s own or someone else’s younger brother in conversation and writing; speakers typically use the plain form to refer to their own sibling when speaking to others and use the polite form when referring to another person’s family member; appears in both casual speech among friends and in neutral written contexts, while honorific or humble language may modify it in formal situations.
💡 Tips
Picture a smaller figure under a protective hand: the compact strokes of 弟 (otouto) represent a ‘little’ brother standing below an elder—link ‘small strokes = younger’.

Variations

  • 弟さん (otouto-san) — polite form used when speaking about someone else’s younger brother
  • 弟分 (otoutobun) — figurative ‘little brother’ or protégé within a social group
  • 兄 (ani) — older brother (antonym)
  • 妹 (imouto) — younger sister (related kin term)

Example Phrases

  • 今日は兄弟と一緒にスーパーへ行って夕食を作る。
    Kyou wa kyoudai to issho ni Suupaa e itte yuushoku o tsukuru.
    Today my brother(s) and I go to the supermarket together and cook dinner.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (Kyou wa) – today
    • 兄弟 (kyoudai) – brother(s)
    • と (to) – and/with
    • 一緒に (issho ni) – together
    • スーパーへ (Suupaa e) – to the supermarket
    • 行って (itte) – go and / going
    • 夕食を (yuushoku o) – dinner
    • 作る (tsukuru) – make
    Uses 「兄弟」 as a noun meaning siblings; と links people, and 一緒に means ‘together’.
  • 雨の中、私は弟を学校まで車で乗せる。
    Ame no naka, watashi wa otōto o gakkō made kuruma de noseru.
    In the rain, I give my younger brother a ride to school.
    Lista:
    • 雨の中 (Ame no naka) – in the rain
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I
    • 弟を (otōto o) – younger brother
    • 学校まで (gakkō made) – to school
    • 車で (kuruma de) – by car
    • 乗せる (noseru) – to give a ride
    Here, 「乗せる」 means to give a ride; use を for the passenger and で for the vehicle.
  • 弟は 素直に 話を 聞き、 誤解を すぐ 解いた。
    Otōto wa sunao ni hanashi o kiki, gokai o sugu toita.
    My younger brother listened honestly and immediately cleared up the misunderstanding.
    Lista:
    • 弟は (Otōto wa) – younger brother
    • 素直に (sunao ni) – honestly
    • 話を (hanashi o) – talk
    • 聞き、 (kiki,) – listening
    • 誤解を (gokai o) – misunderstanding
    • すぐ (sugu) – immediately
    • 解いた。 (toita.) – cleared up
    In this sentence, 「素直」(sunao) appears as the base form in the adverbial 「素直に」, meaning ‘honestly/openly’ and it directly modifies 聞く (to listen).
弟