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brothers

Bro and Sis are more colloquial、 Basically slang, people use them in real life and on the net but they aren't formal. Like Ani instead of Onii san。
 
Thanks for the info, Kenjirou.

But I don't think "ani vs. onii san" is similar to that case.
"ani" is a formal word for "onii san". I suppose "bro" and "sis"
are not formal words.

You haven't replied to my message in another thread.

Why are you living in Thailand and coming to Japan soon?

Hirashin
 
eeeeh? Machigaetano? Hmmm i thought that "Ani" and "Ane" were slightly informal... but i guess because of the fact that they have their own kanji they should be formal.... well i guess bro and sis are just informal ways of saying brother and sister.. maybe (i might be wrong again) like niichan or neechan?

As for the reason why I'm going to Japan, because I'm gonna become an exchange student for my last year of highschool as well as taking the proficiency tests.. right now i can do proficiency 3 but studying for two... the listening section is easy but i dont know all those kanji!! Taihen!

Please tell me what thread your waiting my reply in... sorry I can't find it ><
 

You're not wrong. "Oniichan" and "Oneechan" are informal words.
"Ani" and "ane" are formal and you can't use them referring to "your brother/sister". It would be rude or strange to say "anata no ani/ane". Be careful about that.


You don't have to reply in another thread because you're replying here. (^_^)/

I believe you're American. Am I right?
If so, why are you in Thailand? Are you spending your vacation there?

Hirashin
 
Well its a little off topic... but since your asking--- Well its kind of a long story, but I basically travel around the world a lot switching country every year, for example I lived in Pakistan this last year. Well I've lived in Thailand for two years actually, one year when I was 1 years old and two years ago I used to live here. Now I'm on vacation though, and that's why I'm here.
Edit: >>> And yes I was born in America =P
Edit2: >>>> Just curious but when people say Otosan! Or Okasan! Is that a particular 弁 or just people speaking childishly? Just in case your confused by what I'm trying to say, not Otousan or Okaasan...
 
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Hi,
Good question!!
(a) older brother - this is very commonly used, especially in the USA, I guess.
(b) elder brother - this is often used in Britain and considered polite. (I'm British, and this is what I would say, especially when talking about somebody else's "older brother"!!)
(c) old brother - not used in this context.
(d) big brother - kids, informal... (now also makes us think of Intrusive Government, thanks to George Orwell's novel 1984: "Big Brother is watching you"!)
(e) younger brother - this is the commonly used phrase.
(f) young brother - not used in this context as a rule.
(g) little brother - informal.
(h) kid brother - informal.
 

When we speak formally in public, we usually don't use "otousan" or "okaasan" referring to "my father/mother". We use "chichi" and "haha" instead. But when referring to other people's father/mother, we use "otousan/okaasan".

For example, "watashi no chichi wa koukou no kyoushi desu" (my father is a high school teacher). "anata no otousan wa isha desuka?" (Is your father a doctor?) We don't say "anata no chichi wa isha desuka?".

Hope it helps.

Hirashin


Thank you for the information, Hirohurl san. Is "kid brother" ever used in the UK as well? I thought it's an American expression.

Hirashin
 
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Hmm, You are right "kid brother" is an American expression and not so common a phrase in the UK (at least, it wasn't - I don't live in Britain now)...

Phrases like "a day out with the kids", or "he's just a kid" are common in Britain however, and then there was the famous song by The Who called "The Kids Are Alright"...
 
Thanks Hirashin! For Chichue or Hahaue, these are archaic formal expressions right? And I'm also curious about Oyaji and Ofukuro, because I usually use these expressions to talk about my parents to Japanese people, but they usually find it amusing that I use them. When I ask if it is too polite or too rude they just say "Iyaa... mezurashii dakedo na" So my question is... Sonnani okashii nanno? Douka, oshiete kudasai!
 
Yes, there are a lot of off beat words that get people "beating about the bush" over... they're usually the ones you most want to know about, too!
 
Kid Brother is not common in America. As far as i know.. :?
I call my brothers and very close guy friends "bro"
I dont have a sister but i dont often hear "sis"
I normally address my brothers with their name, "bro" or no title/name at all. i.e.

"John, when are you leaving?"
"Bro, when are you leaving?"
"Hey, when are you leaving?"

But when talking to anyone outside of my family I would say older brother, younger brother, eldest brother, or youngest brother depending on which brother I am talking about. Normally I'd only use this when introducing my brothers, but from that point after i would use their names.

"This is my younger/youngest brother Sean."
later in the conversation:
"Sean likes to play the piano." (not "My younger/youngest brother likes to play the piano")

Out of your list the ones in red are the most commonly heard, imo.
(a) older brother
(b) elder brother
(d) big brother (this does sound a little childish)
(e) younger brother
(f) young brother (not common, in my experience)
(g) little brother (common, not used when addressing your younger brother, used more for introducing and the like i.e. "This is my little brother Sean")
(h) kid brother (also not common)
Hope this helps
 
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Hi, Kenjirou.

Thanks for the difficult question.

It's not easy to say "oyaji/ofukuro" is rude or polite. It depends on the situation. If you are being interviewed for a job, you shouldn't use those words. Use "chichi/haha" instead. But you can use "oyaji/ofukuro" when you talk casually with your friends (younger and older) or anyone you know.

Referring to "my father", "Chichi/haha" sounds more polite than "oyaji/ofukuro". But if you use "chichi/haha" when you talk with your close friends, they may sound too formal.

I hope I made sense.

Hirashin
 
Thank you for the comments, Hirohurl san and Luke Settle san.

It seems that there is an American movie called "Kid brother".
And I hear some Americans are still using the word. But it doesn't
seem to be so common in the US today.

The usage of these kinds of words seems to depend on the region
you live in or the family you belong to.

Hirashin
 
Yes, "Kid Brother" would be understood by most Americans as meaning "Little Brother," but most Americans do not use it. Little Brother is more common.
 
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