← Kanji module
N4 · 8 strokes · — · Irodori #257 · Elementary 1 L17
姉
elder sister
Stroke diagrams © KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Readings
- On’yomi
- シ
- Kun’yomi
- あね、はは
Example words
姉
あね
older sister; elder sister
姉
ねえ
older sister
姉
し
honorific suffix used after the name of a woman of equal or higher status
姉妹
しまい
sisters
Memory aids
Guided learn session →How to remember
Shape
A 8-stroke character meaning "elder sister" — picture the concept as you trace each stroke.
Components
Remember "elder sister" (姉) by connecting it to its Irodori vocabulary context.
Anchor word
姉 (あね) — your first meeting with this kanji in Irodori.
Readings
First learned in 姉 (あね) — recall the word to unlock the reading. Kun'yomi: あね、はは — often used in native Japanese words (like 姉). On'yomi: シ — common in compound words (熟語).