How to Say ‘The older child’ in Japanese
上の子
ue no ko
[oo-EH noh koh]
💬 Usage Tip: Siblings are described as "above" and "below": 上 (ue) for older, 下 (shita) for younger. Swap in 真ん中の子 (mannaka no ko) "the middle child" for a third.
Phrase Breakdown
上
ue
[oo-EH]
older; elder
When talking about siblings or children, 上 means the older one.
上の兄は十歳です。
My older brother is ten.
の
no
[noh]
of; linking particle
Connects 'usual' to 'road.'
いつもの道を使いたいです。
I'd like to use the usual road.
子
ko
[koh]
child
子 means “child.” Combined with いい, it means “good child.”
あの子をいい子にする。
Make that child into a good child.
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