Primary Meanings of brothers
Children with a blood relationship
Refers to children who share the same parents. It is used in two senses: “brothers” (kyodai), meaning a group of brothers, and “brothers and sisters” (kyodai-shimai), which includes siblings regardless of gender.
Close Relationships
Friends or companions may affectionately call each other “brothers” (kyodai). However, women do not refer to each other as “sisters” (shimai).
Pseudo-Relationship
It is also used when individuals become related through adoption, sharing the same parents, or when close male friends address each other.
Meaning of the Kanji
The first character means “older brother,” the second character means “younger brother,” and together they are read as “kyodai” in Japanese.
