姉妹

しまい · shimai · JLPT N3 · noun

sister

姉妹 — sister

👭 姉妹 = older sister (姉) + younger sister (妹)

Both kanji carry the woman radical 女. 姉 (shi) is the older sister and 妹 (mai) the younger, so the word lists them in age order: shi + mai = sisters. The same pattern gives 兄弟 (kyoudai), older + younger brother.

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