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I know that people often ask [兄弟]{きょうだい}いますか but does this mean "do you have
siblings?" or just "do you have brothers?".

Since the answer would be different in either case:

(Has a sister) "No, but I have a sister" or would it be "Yes, I have a sister"
(Has a brother) "Yes I do"
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2014-01-16T07:48:27.130
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2014-01-16T08:17:37.167
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question
words
When is 兄弟 interpreted as "siblings" and when is it interpreted as "brothers"?
When you say 兄弟いますか, it normally means "Do you have siblings?" (You'd say like
お兄さんか弟(さん)いますか/いる？ to mean "Do you have brothers?") I think
兄弟(は)いますか？/兄弟(は)いる(の)？ will normally be responded with

> はい、姉/兄/妹/弟が(X人)います。  
>  うん、お姉ちゃん/お兄ちゃん/妹/弟が(X人)いるよ。  
>  はい、姉と弟がいます。  
>

etc...

You'll say "No" when you're the only child:

> いいえ、一人っ子です。  
>  ううん、一人っ子。  
>
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2014-01-16T08:11:59.177
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2014-01-16T08:17:37.167
2014-01-16T08:17:37.167
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answer