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older sister

JLPT N4 Grade 2 8 strokes
Kun'yomi
あね
On'yomi
Radical
· woman (woman, female)

姉 means "older sister". It is a JLPT N4 kanji written in 8 strokes. It is read あね in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and シ in compounds (on'yomi). Japanese schoolchildren learn it in grade 2.

Example word

ねえさん

older sister

姉 in example sentences

  • あねはいない。

    Ane wa inai.

    I don't have an older sister.

  • しまいはいますか?

    Shimai wa imasu ka?

    Do you have any sisters?

  • あねおとうとがいます。

    Ane to otouto ga imasu.

    I have a sister and a brother.

Example sentences from the Tatoeba Project, licensed CC-BY 2.0 FR.

Stroke order & writing

Want more? Practice writing from memory. Stroke-order and animation sources are on our credits page.

Words that use 姉

More (woman) kanji

Common questions

What does the kanji 姉 mean?
姉 means "older sister". It is a JLPT N4 kanji.
How many strokes does 姉 have?
姉 is written in 8 strokes.
How is 姉 read?
It is read あね in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and シ in compounds (on'yomi).
What JLPT level is 姉?
姉 is a JLPT N4 kanji.