I played through the Yakuza games and I hear it used a lot. It’s a term of respect for an older brother, but not someone genetically related correct? I also heard it in Final Fantasy 7 when an NPC called Cloud “aniki” after Cloud helped him out.
Is it a term used by normal folk in Japan, or is it something more often encountered in anime and media?
3 comments
I worked with a sort of bogan Japanese guy in his early 30s who referred to his older brother as 兄貴 and his dad as 親父. He’s also the type that said 飯を食う instead of ご飯を食べる.
It’s kind of a hyper-masculine way of speaking but is still very much part of the language.
What u\Underpanters said, but “aniki” is used in other places in real life and anime.
For example, the singer Takanori Nishikawa (also known as T.M.Revolution) is called “aniki” by fans.
I’m japanese. Your understanding is perfect.
“Aniki” is normally used to older brother from little brother.
When it is used to someone not genetically related, it means respect for someone reliable and having strong power or mind. But this usage is rare in real life. (I think it’s used more often in anime because we can find relationship or the character clearly)
“ni-chan” and “oni-chan” are tend to be used instead of “aniki”, but some of my friend used it.
I remembered my school teacher was called like “Math-aniki” as joke only because of his tough-looking.