お兄さん

おにいさん · oniisan · JLPT N5 · noun

brother

お兄さん — brother

お兄さん = polite o + 兄 nii (older brother) + san (Mr/Ms)

The core is 兄 (nii), older brother. Wrap it in two politeness markers: honorific お in front and さん behind. That double padding is why it suits someone else's brother; your own is plain 兄 (ani).

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