Sister in Japanese
"sister" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
尼
ama
2 Japanese kanji carry the meaning "sister". The most common choice is shown first.
Which one to use
姉 is an older sister, 妹 a younger one. As with brothers, Japanese has no word for sister without age; you must choose. 姉妹 together means sisters.
妹View details →
Top pick
younger sister
Reading: mai
8 strokes
Where it comes from
Composed of woman and not yet. Woman not yet mature.
What it carries
Younger sister, sisters, sister-in-law. Represents younger female sibling.
Related kanji for "sister"
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for sister?
The most common kanji for "sister" is 妹, read as mai. It means younger sister. Related kanji: 姉 (elder sister).
How many strokes does 妹 have?
妹 has 8 strokes.