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弟

younger brother
Stroke count: 7

Readings

On readingテイ、ダイ、デ
Kun readingおとうと
JLPT level: N4JōyōGrade 2

Meanings

  1. younger brotherRtK
    彼は私と弟を取り違えた。He mistook me for my younger brother.tatoeba
  2. faithful service to elders
  1. little brother
  2. kid brother
  3. brother-in-law (spouse's younger brother or younger sister's husband)
  4. pupil

Synonyms

兄義弟

Popular Usage

兄弟従兄弟

Radicals and components

Radical弓bow
Components
How it's built
弟
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Mnemonic (RtK)

ⓘ

horns · dollar · bow (弓) · stick (丨)

From "Remembering the Kanji" by James Heisig · Frame 1328

Compound words

兄弟きょうだい
brothers and sisters; siblings; half-siblings; step-siblings; siblings by marriage or adoption
従兄弟いとこ
cousin (male)
義弟ぎてい
brother-in-law (spouse's younger brother or younger sister's husband); younger stepbrother
子弟してい
children; sons; children and younger brothers; young people
師弟してい
teacher and student
弟妹ていまい
younger brother and sister
弟子でし
pupil; disciple; adherent; follower; apprentice
実弟じってい
biological younger brother
弟子入りでしいり
becoming a pupil (of); becoming an apprentice
姉弟してい
older sister and younger brother
弟月おとうづき
12th lunar month
徒弟とてい
apprentice
ご兄弟ごきょうだい
siblings
愛弟子まなでし
favorite pupil
兄弟愛きょうだいあい
brotherly love
兄弟子あにでし
senior pupil (of the same master)
兄弟分きょうだいぶん
sworn brother
御兄弟ごきょうだい
siblings
再従弟さいじゅうてい
younger second cousin
弟切草おとぎりそう
Hypericum erectum (species of St. John's wort)
まな弟子まなでし
favorite pupil
愚兄賢弟ぐけいけんてい
a foolish older brother and a smart younger
弟切草属おとぎりそうぞく
Hypericum (plant genus including St. John's worts)
弟切草目おとぎりそうもく
Guttiferales (plant order)

Kun Reading Examples

東京の郊外に住む両親や弟は大震災で死んだ。おとうと
My parents and little brother, who lived in the suburbs of Tokyo, died in the big earthquake.tatoeba

Additional Examples

彼は彼女が弟とデートしていることに腹を立てた。
He resented that she was dating his brother.tatoeba
彼は弟が自慢だった。
He was proud of his brother.tatoeba
彼は弟をさんざんいじめた。
He knocked his brother about.tatoeba
彼は弟の肩をポンとたたいた。
He patted his brother on the shoulder.tatoeba

Stroke Order

7 strokes

Practice Writing

Practice Writing 弟

Draw with a guide, then from memory — checked at every step