Meaning and Usage
"弟" (おとうと) specifically refers to a younger brother in Japanese. It is a common family term used in everyday conversation to talk about one's male sibling who is younger than the speaker.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "弟" used when describing family members, talking about siblings' activities, or comparing ages within a family. It is a neutral and polite term suitable for both casual and formal situations.
Collocations and Patterns
- 弟は〜です: Used to state facts about your younger brother, e.g., "弟は学生です" (My younger brother is a student).
- 弟と一緒に〜する: Expresses doing something together with your younger brother, e.g., "弟と遊ぶ" (play with my younger brother).
- まだ弟が〜: Indicates the younger brother's current status or age, e.g., "まだ弟が小さい" (My younger brother is still small).
Tips for Learners
Be careful not to confuse "弟" with "兄" (あに, older brother) or "兄弟" (きょうだい, siblings). "弟" always means a younger brother from the speaker's perspective. When talking about someone else's younger brother, the same word is used but context clarifies the relationship.
Using "弟" naturally helps you talk about family relationships clearly and politely in Japanese.