essay on my family in japanese

Talk About Family in Japanese: Father-in-Law and More!

Learning a foreign language isn’t only about the language itself, but also about its culture, customs, and society. Family is the minimum unit of a social group, and it’s important to understand its characteristics as this is closely related to culture and customs.

When you learn how to explain your family in Japanese, it helps to expand your vocabulary and improve your communication skills in Japanese.

Compared to English, there are many more words to describe family members in Japanese. These words are according to age and the style (formal and informal). For example, what is a Japanese father-in-law called?

Let’s learn how to describe family in Japanese at JapanesePod101.com. Here’s our list of the most useful Japanese words and family member terms, as well as important information about family in Japan.

Table of Contents

• Family in Japan – Cultural Perspective
• Basic Family Terms
• Terms of Relatives
• Family Terms as a Married Person
• Endearment Terms
• How to Describe Family and Ask Question about Family in Japanese
• Conclusion: How Japanesepod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

1. Family in Japan – Cultural Perspective

Before we move onto the actual family vocabulary, it’s important that we go over family roles in Japanese culture, family values in Japanese society, and the importance of family in Japanese culture. This will give you a better idea of what to expect from Japanese families, and give more context to the Japanese family vocabulary and phrases you’re going to learn!

1- Traditional and Modern Family in Japan

The traditional Japanese family is characterized by the 家 ( Ie ) or family system , which is literally translated as “household.” It refers to a home and family’s lineage, which bestows importance of kinship and loyalty to their family.

Each member of a family is expected to serve their family’s interests (rather than the individual’s) as a priority. The Japanese family is traditionally patriarchal and a household usually consists of grandparents, their son, his wife, and their children. The eldest son is expected to inherit the household assets, and he’s responsible for taking care of his parents when they get old.

In the modern Japanese family, however, the influence of the traditional ie system isn’t as strong as it used to be. A 核家族 ( kaku kazoku ) or “ nuclear family ” is very common nowadays, and consists of two parents and their children, typically centering on a married couple.

While a married couple is expected to live together with a husband’s parents in the traditional Japanese family, grandparents don’t live with a kaku kazoku in a modern Japanese family (although they are visited often).

2- Becoming a Family in Japan (Marriage)

In Japan, the 戸籍 ( Koseki ) or “family registration system” is mandatory to all households. It requires that the family records all changes in family composition and identity, such as births, deaths, marriages, divorces, acknowledgements of paternity, adoptions, and disrupted adoptions.

It’s required to register one person as the head of a household, and the rest of the members in a household must have the same surname as that of the head. Once a couple gets married, spouses are obligated to have the same surname, and registration of different surnames is not allowed.

Due to the traditional system and the importance of kinship as custom, marriage isn’t only a matter of the bride and groom, but also of their extended family. It’s expected that extended families from both sides are going to have a “family relationship” once a couple gets married in Japan. As such, relationships with one’s in-laws become important.

3- Expressions of Family in Japan

There are various words to name family members in Japanese.

Japanese vocabulary words to describe family count age difference, and there are particular names related to age. This is because age is regarded as one of the most important attributions in the Japanese society, which is greatly influenced by the concept of Confucianism that states seniority is highly respected.

As relationships with in-laws are also culturally important, there are particular names for them as well.

In addition, there are variations of how to express family members, ranging from very casual to formal. Which ones to use depend on the occasion.

Let’s dive into the details in the following sections, and get you started with common family words in Japanese.

2. Basic Family Terms

Now, it’s time to learn some basic Japanese words for family members. These are the words you’ll most often hear and use!

1- Basic Family Vocabularies

The formal terms are usually used for official occasions and in written form, while the informal terms are commonly used in casual situations (orally) as well as when calling a family member.

Average modern Japanese families usually have 1 or 2 children.

2- More Vocabulary

• 家族 かぞく ( Kazoku ) : family
• 両親 りょうしん ( Ryōshin ) : parents (father & mother)
• 親 おや ( Oya ) : parent(s)
• 子供 こども ( Kodomo ) : child(ren)
• 兄弟 きょうだい ( Kyōdai ) : brothers
• 姉妹しまい ( Shimai ) : sisters

3- Examples

Here are some examples of Japanese phrases for family, so you have a better idea how to use the vocabulary above.

• 私の家族は、お母さん、お父さん、私、弟の4人家族です。 Watashi no kazoku wa, o-kā-san, o-tō-san, watashi, otōto no yo-nin kazoku desu. My family has four members: mother, father, me, and my younger brother.
• 私は姉と妹がいる3姉妹です。 Watashi wa ane to imōto ga iru san-shimai desu. I have an older sister and a younger sister, and we are three sisters.
• 私は兄と姉がいます。 Watashi wa ani to ane ga imasu. I have an older brother and an older sister.
• 私は祖父と祖母が大好きです。 Watashi wa sofu to sobo ga daisuki desu. I like my grandfather and grandmother very much.

To listen to the pronunciation of basic family terms, please visit Must-Know Terms for Family Members on our website.

Also, if you would like to know more about Japanese numbers, please visit our Japanese Numbers article .

The bond between a mother and a daughter is often very strong.

3. Terms of Relatives

1- vocabulary for relatives.

• 親戚　しんせき ( Shinseki ) : relatives
• 叔父　おじ ( Oji ) : uncle
• 叔母　おば ( Oba ) : aunt
• 甥　おい (Oi) : nephew
• 姪　めい ( Mei ) : niece
• いとこ ( Itoko ) : cousin

2- Examples

• 私の親戚は全員東京に住んでいます。 Watashi no shinseki wa zen’in Tōkyō ni sunde imasu. All my relatives live in Tokyo.
• 私は5人いとこがいます。 Watashi wa go-nin itoko ga imasu. I have five cousins.
• 私の叔父と叔母は教師です。 Watashi no oji to oba wa kyōshi desu. My uncle and my aunt are teachers.
• 私の姪は5歳で、甥は2歳です。 Watashi no mei wa go-sai de, oi wa ni-sai desu. My niece is five years old and my nephew is two years old.

4. Family Terms as a Married Person

1- vocabulary to know as a married person.

• 結婚 けっこん ( Kekkon ) : marriage
• 既婚 きこん ( Kikon ) : married
• 未婚　みこん ( Mikon ) : unmarried
• 離婚　りこん ( Rikon ) : divorce
• 夫 おっと ( Otto ) : husband
• 妻 つま ( Tsuma ) : wife
• 息子　むすこ ( Musuko ) : son
• 娘　むすめ ( Musume ) : daughter
• 義理の ぎりの ( Giri no ) : in-law

In order to express “XXX in-law,” add 義理の ( Giri no ) in front of XXX (the family member).

For example:

• 義理の両親 ( Giri no ryōshin ) : parents-in-law
• 義理の父 ( Giri no chichi ) : father-in-law
• 義理の母 ( Giri no haha ) : mother-in-law
• 義理の兄 ( Giri no ani ) : older brother-in-law
• 義理の弟 ( Giri no otōto ) : younger brother-in-law
• 義理の姉 ( Giri no ane ) : older sister-in-law
• 義理の妹 ( Giri no imōto ) : younger sister-in-law
• 私は夫と娘が1人います。 Watashi wa otto to musume ga hitori imasu. I have a husband and one daughter.
• 私の義理の父と母は大阪に住んでいます。 Watashi no giri no chichi to haha wa Ōsaka ni sunde imasu. My father and mother in-law live in Osaka.
• 私は既婚者で子供が2人います。 Watashi wa kikonsha de kodomo ga futari imasu. I am married and I have two children.
• 私の義理の両親は、私の息子におもちゃを買いました。 Watashi no giri no ryōshin wa, watashi no musuko ni omocha o kaimashita. My parents-in-law bought a toy for my son.

5. Endearment Terms

In addition to the formal and informal terms for family, there are also more casual vocabulary words that you can call family members. It may vary from household to household, or on what kind of relationships there are between family members, but here are some examples. Just note that these are typically used in Japanese family relationships that are close.

• パパ ( Papa ) : papa

Like in English, “papa” is a common name to call a father in Japan, especially when children are very small. However, most Japanese people don’t use papa as they grow up.

• 父ちゃん ( Tō-chan ) : dad

This term includes a nuance of cute and comical affection.

• おやじ ( Oyaji ) : dad

This term is usually used by sons who are post-adolescent age. When they become adults, they often feel embarrassed to call their father papa or o-tō-san . This term also indicates a nuance of close affection.

• ママ ( Mama ) : mama

Just like papa, mama is used especially when children are still small.

• 母ちゃん ( Kā-chan ) : mom

This is the version of tō-chan used for mothers.

• お袋 ( Ofukuro ) : mom

This is the mother version of oyaji .

3- Grandfather

• じじ ( Jiji ) : grandpa

Grandchildren and their parents usually call a grandfather by this term when the grandchildren are still small. It indicates a nuance of cute affection.

• じーじ ( Jīji ) : grandpa

This is very similar to jiji , but the first ji is pronounced longer.

4- Grandmother

• ばば ( Baba ) : grandma

This is the grandmother version of jiji .

• ばーば ( Bāba ) : grandma

This is the grandmother version of jīji .

Grandparents often have endearing nicknames when they have grandchildren.

6. How to Describe Family and Ask Question about Family in Japanese

Most of the time, there’s no problem with talking about family and relatives. When it comes to marital status and children, however, it can be a delicate matter. It can sometimes be inappropriate to ask someone about his/her marital status or if they have children, unless he/she is open and willing to talk. This is especially true for a woman in her 30s.

Here are some example questions and answers related to family.

Q: 何人家族ですか。 Nan-nin kazoku desu ka. How many family members do you have?

A: お父さん、お母さん、お姉ちゃん、私の4人家族です。 O-tō-san, o-kā-san, o-nee-chan, watashi no yo-nin kazoku desu. I have four family members: father, mother, older sister, and me.

—–

Q: 兄弟はいますか。 Kyōdai wa imasu ka. Do you have brothers and sisters?

*When asking a question, kyōdai can also refer to sisters.

A: 私は姉と弟がいます。 Watashi wa ane to otōto ga imasu. I have an older sister and a younger brother.

Q: 結婚していますか。 Kekkon shite imasu ka. Are you married?

A: はい、妻と子供が2人います。 Hai, tsuma to kodomo ga futari imasu. Yes, I have a wife and two children.

Q: 孫はいますか。 Mago wa imasu ka. Do you have grandchildren?

A: はい、私は孫が6人います。 Hai, watashi wa mago ga roku-nin imasu. Yes, I have six grandchildren.

Q: ご両親はお元気ですか。 Go-ryōshin wa o-genki desu ka. How are your parents?

*It’s polite to put go in front of ryōshin when you talk about someone’s parents.

A: はい、私の父と母は元気です。 Hai, watashi no chichi to haha wa genki desu. Yes, my father and mother are doing well.

For more about self-introductions, please visit Introducing Yourself in Japanese on our website .

7. Conclusion: How Japanesepod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

I hope this article about family in Japanese culture is useful and that it helps to improve your Japanese communication skills.

If you would like to learn more about the Japanese language, you’ll find more useful content on JapanesePod101.com . We provide a variety of free lessons for you to improve your Japanese language skills. For example, Must-Know Terms for Family Members is helpful if you want to practice family terms in Japanese with audio.

We also have YouTube channel: JapanesePod101 . It’s always fun to learn Japanese by watching videos and listening to actual Japanese pronunciation.

Before you go, let us know in the comments if there are any family terms you still want to know! And to practice, write a short paragraph about your family in basic Japanese. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Howdy Information

My family ~Let’s introduce your family in japanese!~

Talk about your family in japanese with your friends, tell about your mother and father.

・Oka-san (Mother) Introduce to superior… Haha

・Oto-san (Father) Introduce to superior… Chichi

・Ryo-shin (Parents)

Practice；What does your father do (work)?

Tell about your brother and sister

・おにいさん　Oni-san (older brother) Introduce to superior… Ani

・おねえさん　One-san (older sister) Introduce to superior… Ane

・弟（おとうと）　Otouto (younger brother)

・妹（いもうと）　Imouto (younger sister)

when you talk about your friends or someone’s brother and sister, we say “Otouto san”, “Imouto san”.

older brother and younger brother…Kyoudai older sister and younger sister…Shimai

Practice: Do you have bother or sister? If you have, talk about it.

Tell about grand father and grand mother

・おじいさん　Ojii san (Grand father) Introduce to superior… Sofu

・おばあさん　Obaa san (Grand mother) Introduce to superior… Sobo

・ひいおばあさん Hii Obaa san (Great-grand mother)

・ひいおじいさん Hii Ojii san (Great-grand father)

Practice: Tell your grand mother and grand father’s memory.

If you married…

How to call your partner after marrige. ・Otto (husband) ・Tsuma (wife) husband and wife… Fuufu

When you talk about your friends or someone’s husband and wife, we say Goshujin and Okusan. Also, someone’s children call Okosan.

How to call your child

Practice: Which one do you want, boy or girl in the future? Also, what do you plan to name your child?

Tell about your pet

Pet… pet (same as English) To introduce your pet…

○○ wo katte imasu.(I have…) ex) Inu wo katte imasu. (I have a dog.)

Practice: Do you have a pet? What kind of pet do you have?

Let’s introduce your family!

・わたしの家族は、○人です。（Watashi no kazoku wa ○nin desu.） 例）わたしの家族は4人です。（ex) Watashi no kazoku wa yonin desu.）

・○○と○○と○○がいます。（○○to ○○to ○○ga imasu.） 例）母と父と兄とわたしです。（ex) Haha to Chichi to Ani to Watashi desu. ） 母と父と兄がいます。（ Haha to Chichi to Ani ga imasu.）

Ask to your friend

Let’s ask to your friend about family.

・家族は何人いますか？・Kazoku wa nannin imasuka? (How many people do you have in your family?)

・誰がいますか？・Dare ga imasuka? (Who is in there?)

・おいくつですか？・Oikutsu desuka? (How old are they?)

・どこに住んでいますか？・Doko ni sunde imasuka? (Where do they live?)

・お仕事は？・Oshigoto wa? (What is their job?)

Let’s plactice conversation！

A：家族は何人いますか？ B：わたしの家族は６人です。 祖母と母と父と妹です。 それからペットの猫を飼っています。 A：妹さんはおいくつですか？ B：２４さいです。 A：お仕事は？ B：学校の先生をしています。

大切な家族を日本語で紹介できるように練習してみましょう！

A: Kazoku wa nannin imasuka? B: Watashi no kazoku wa rokunin desu. Sobo to haha to chichi to imouto desu. Sorekara pet no neko wo katte imasu. A: Imouto san wa oikutsu desuka? B: Nijyu-yonsai desu. A: Oshigoto wa? B: Gakko no sensei wo shiteimasu.

Let’s paractice and introduce your fabulous family in Japanese!

【Vegetables】What is your favorite food?~Let’s study food names in Japanese.~

【Fruits】 What is your favorite food? -Let’s study food names in Japanese!

You are familiar with Japan⁉ Do you know about Japanese typical food？

Which side are you on? For breakfast,bread or rice? ～various conversation～

What is your hobby? Let’s become able to listen and answer about hobby in Japanese！

Japanese Family Terms – How to Address Your Own Relatives and Others’

In this guide, you will learn the fundamentals of the Japanese family terms , focusing primarily on  informal  and  formal  terms. By learning how to use both informal and formal terms, you will be able to talk about  your own family (informal)  as well as address  someone else’s family (formal) .

• 1.1 “Family” in Japanese
• 1.2 “Family member” in Japanese
• 2 Addressing family members in Japanese
• 3.1 Immediate family in Japanese
• 3.2 Grandparents in Japanese
• 3.3 Parents in Japanese
• 3.4.1 Sister in Japanese
• 3.4.2 Brother in Japanese
• 3.5 Children in Japanese
• 3.6 Spouse in Japanese
• 4.1 Relatives in Japanese
• 4.2 In-laws in Japanese
• 5.2 Someone else’s relatives
• 5.3 Your in-laws
• 6 Why learn the Japanese Family Terms?

Japanese Family

In Japan, like in any other Asian country, the family is regarded as the most important sector of society. The family members are treated with respect. This is evident in the language used toward them. Each family members have their own name according to one’s relationship with that member.

A Japanese family is made up of immediate family members such as father, mother, and siblings and extended families such as grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, and cousins.

In this guide, we’ll teach you the different Japanese family terms you can use to address your own family members and other people’s family.

“Family” in Japanese

The word for “family” in Japanese is かぞく (kazoku). So when talking about your family, you can say わたしの かぞく (watashi no kazoku) which means “My family”.

For example:

わたし の かぞく は かんこく から きました。(watashi no kazokuwa kankokukara kimashita.)

My family is from Korea. 

わたし の かぞく は たべる の が すき です。(watashi no kazokuwa taberunoga suki desu.)

My family likes to eat.

“Family member” in Japanese

The word “family member” in Japanese is かぞく の いちいん (kazoku no ichiin).

Addressing family members in Japanese

The Japanese have different family words to address family members . The family words vary according to whose family member are you addressing or talking about. The Japanese family words are different when you’re talking about or addressing your own family members and when it’s a member of a different family.

In a while, you’ll be adding a few more words to your Japanese vocabulary .

Addressing your own family

Getting familiar with these terms should be the first step to learning how to address family members in Japanese. These terms are used commonly in Japan, so you will probably hear them quite often throughout day-to-day life.

Remember to use these words when you’re talking about your own family. Use it when you’re in a casual and informal setting or situation.

Immediate family in Japanese

An immediate family is きんしんしゃ (kinshinsha) in Japanese . It’s made up of grandparents, parents, siblings, children, husband, wife, and spouse. In this lesson, we’ll group the Japanese family words according to these groups.

Grandparents in Japanese

Grandparents in Japanese is そふぼ (sofubo). When talking about or addressing your grandfather you can say そふ (sofu) while grandmother is そぼ (sobo).

Parents in Japanese

Parents in Japanese are called りょうしん (ryōshin) while father is ちち (chichi) and mother is はは (haha).

Siblings in Japanese

Siblings are made up of brothers and sisters. Siblings in Japanese are called きょうだい (kyōdai).

Sister in Japanese

There are two ways to say sister in Japanese when talking about your own sister.

You’ll say あね (ane) for your older sister and いもうと (imouto) for your younger sister.

Brother in Japanese

Just like the word sister, there are two ways to say brother in Japanese when talking about your own brother.

You’ll say あに (ani) for your older brother while おとうと (otouto) for your younger brother.

Children in Japanese

Children are called こども (kodomo) in the Japanese language. But they have a specific word used for a female and male child.

Spouse in Japanese

The word spouse is はいぐうしゃ in Japanese . However, in Japan, they have exact words to call their respective spouse.

List of Family Words in Japanese

Here’s the summary of all the Japanese family member vocabulary you’ll use to address your own family.

Relatives in Japanese

To add to your Japanese vocabulary for family members, let’s learn about addressing your relatives. The word relative is translated as しんせき (shinseki).

そこで おおく の しんせき に あった.  (sokode ookuno shinsekini atta)

I met many relatives there.

あなた の しんせき は どこ に すんでいます か. (anatano shinsekiwa dokoni sundeimasuka)

Where do your relatives live?

Below is a list of people related to your own family in the Japanese language.

In-laws in Japanese

The word “in-law” is いんせき (inseki) in Japanese. However, when it comes to addressing your in-laws, the general rule of thumb is to add “義理の”（ぎりの | giri no ）before their relation in the family.

Although “義理の” is not a direct translation of “in-law” (義理 actually refers to the Japanese value of duty and obligation), you can add “義理の” as a prefix to change the relation to “in-law.”

Example sentences:

私の 妹 は6歳です。

わたし　の　 いもうと 　は　ろく  さい　です。

Watashi no  imōto  wa roku sai desu.

My  younger sister  is 6 years old .

あに 　は　だいがく きょうじゅ　です。

Ani  wa daigaku kyōju desu.

My   older brother  is a university professor .

私は 義理の姉 がいます。

わたし　は　ぎりのあね　が　います。

Watashi wa giri no ane ga imasu.

I have a (older) sister-in-law .

Addressing  someone else’s  family

Now that you’re comfortable talking about your own family, next we will look at words that you should use when addressing someone else’s family. As mentioned earlier, there’s a different way of addressing or talking about family members of another family.

Below is a list of Japanese vocabulary for someone else’s family members. A lot of these terms end with  an honorific suffix さん ( -san ) to emphasize respect   and politeness toward others.

Remember to use these words especially when you are addressing or talking about someone else’s family. You’ll also use this list of vocabulary when you are in a serious and formal setting or situation.

Tip : If you want to be extra respectful, change the さん (- san ) honorific to a 様 (さま – sama )   honorific (For example: お父さん otōsan  → お父 様   otō sama )

Someone else’s immediate family

Below is a table of words you’ll use to address or talk about other’s immediate family members.

Someone else’s relatives

Earlier we learned the vocabulary we need to address people related to our own family. This time, we’ll learn how we can address people related to someone else’s family.

For the word “relative” in the Japanese language, ごしんせき (goshinseki) is used.

Let’s take a close look at the Japanese vocabulary below. Pay close attention to how the written kanji  changes for uncle, aunt, and cousin, depending on the context (i.e., older or younger for aunts/uncles and male or female for cousins).

Your in-laws

When addressing someone else’s family members, it’s important to address them respectfully by adding the honorific suffix さん ( -san ).

私はあなたの ご両親 にお会いしたいです。

わたし　は　あなた　の　 ごりょうしん　 に　おあい したい　です。

Watashi wa anata no  goryōshin  ni oai shitai desu.

I want to meet your  parents .

山田さんの お父様 は何をされている方ですか？

やまださん　の　 おとうさま 　は　なにを　されている　かた　ですか？

Yamada-san no  otōsama  wa nani o sareteiru kata desu ka?

What does Yamada-san’s  father  do for a living?

Why learn the Japanese Family Terms?

It’s very important for you to learn the terms used in a family in Japanese. For example, you are at a formal dinner party, and your manager asks you about your family. As you describe some of your family members, you also decide to ask a question about their family. Now, are you going to use the same words that you used to describe your own family when you ask a question about your manager’s family?

It’s not just limited to conversations about your family that make learning the Japanese terms used in a family important. Whether it may be filling out an emergency contact or casually talking about your family at your company’s 歓迎会 ( kangei-kai  or welcome party), knowing some basic family terms in Japanese should come in handy at some point. But memorizing just a few terms won’t always cut it, as there are different words that are used for different occasions.

Let us know how many members are there in your family in the comment section by using the Japanese family terms you learned today!

8 replies to "Japanese Family Terms – How to Address Your Own Relatives and Others’"

Thanks for this concise review of Japanese family terms list using kanji, kana, and romaji.

Awesome, thanks for your comment! ^^ If you want, you can visit the 90 Day Japanese Blog to find more great content on learning Japanese. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for video lessons. You’ll get updated when our latest videos become available.

І was able to find good informatіon from your blog articles.

Thanks for your comment! I’m glad that our articles have been useful to you. ^^ To find more great content on learning Japanese, visit the 90 Day Japanese Blog . You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel for video lessons. You’ll get updated when our latest videos become available.

Thank you so much for your help,I have learned too much from your article, it’s very useful for me, keep it up.

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Talk About Family in Japanese with 60+ Essential Vocabulary Words

Family in Japanese culture is strongly tied to identity and the family unit often functions as a whole.

Traditionally, parents and elders are respected and ancestors are honored. 

When you start a journey to learn a new language , family words are often among the first that you learn—and thses familial words are even more important when you’re learning Japanese!

Learn all about the Japanese family and the words you’ll need to know to refer to any of your relatives.

The Importance of Family in Japanese

Japanese family vocabulary words , “family” and other basic vocabulary, immediate family, extended family, familial terms of endearment, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Family holds significant importance in Japanese society and culture. The concept of family, known as 家族 (kazoku) in Japanese, is deeply rooted in traditional values.  Influenced by Confucian principles, Japanese family structures generally have a patriarchal head and a multi-generational household. 

The cultural significance of the family is evident in the 戸籍 (koseki), Japan’s official family registry, which treats the household as the fundamental societal unit. This registry mandates reporting details such as birthplace, date of birth, relocations, marriages, divorces, paternity acknowledgments, adoptions and deaths. Because of this, individuals are highly aware of their family history, hierarchy and genealogy.

There are a few underlying aspects of family in Japanese culture:

• Filial piety: Japanese culture places a strong emphasis on respect and devotion to parents and elders. Filial piety, or 親孝行 (oyakoko), is a traditional virtue where children are expected to show deep respect and care for their parents.
• Family as a social unit: The family is considered a fundamental social unit in Japan. It’s often seen as a cohesive and supportive group and individuals derive a sense of identity and belonging from their family ties.
• Collectivism: Japan is known for its collectivist culture and this extends to family values. Cooperation and harmony within the family are highly valued and decisions often consider the impact on the family as a whole.
• Ancestor worship: Ancestor veneration is a significant aspect of Japanese culture. Families pay homage to their ancestors through rituals and ceremonies, fostering a strong connection between past and present generations.
• Family events and traditions: Various family-centric events and traditions play a vital role in Japanese culture. Celebrations like New Year’s Day, Obon (a festival to honor ancestors) and Shichi-Go-San (a celebration of children’s growth) emphasize family unity.
• Roles and responsibilities: Traditional gender roles have influenced family dynamics, with defined roles for men and women. While these roles are evolving, there’s still a sense of shared responsibilities within the family structure.
• Support system: Families in Japan often serve as a support system for individuals, offering emotional, financial and practical assistance. The elderly are typically cared for within the family, emphasizing intergenerational support.

You can pick up a lot more vocabulary and cultural nuance through authentic media, like the kind you’ll find on FluentU .

You probably don’t call your mom “mother,” right? You might call her “mom” or “momma,” and younger kids might call her “mommy” or “mama.”

The same is true in Japanese—there are a few ways to refer to your family members when you’re talking to them that aren’t necessarily the “official” terms. 

The simplest way to refer to your relatives is by adding the honorifics “-san” or “-chan” to make the word more respectful or affectionate, respectively. For example:  

• お姉さん (Oneesan) — Older sister (respectful) 
• お姉ちゃん (Oneechan) — Older sister (affectionate)
• 弟さん (Otouto-san) — Younger brother (respectful)
• 弟ちゃん (Otouto-chan) — Younger brother (affectionate)
• じいちゃん (Jiichan) — Grandfather (affectionate)
• ばあちゃん (Baachan) — Grandmother (affectionate)
• おとっちゃん (Otto-chan) — Husband (affectionate)

Here are some more affectionate terms of endearment for referring to and talking to family members in Japanese:

Regardless of your relationship with your own family, learning family words in Japanese is an important step in your language learning journey. From mom and dad to great-grandmother, you now know how to address any of your relatives in Japanese!

If you love learning Japanese with authentic materials, then I should also tell you more about FluentU .

FluentU naturally and gradually eases you into learning Japanese language and culture. You'll learn real Japanese as it's spoken in real life.

FluentU has a broad range of contemporary videos as you'll see below:

FluentU makes these native Japanese videos approachable through interactive transcripts. Tap on any word to look it up instantly.

All definitions have multiple examples, and they're written for Japanese learners like you. Tap to add words you'd like to review to a vocab list.

And FluentU has a learn mode which turns every video into a language learning lesson. You can always swipe left or right to see more examples.

The best part? FluentU keeps track of your vocabulary, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You'll have a 100% personalized experience.

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家族 kazoku: Family in Japanese

• Post author: Language Garage
• Post published: May 28, 2022
• Post category: Japanese / Vocabulary

Image: Kampus Production on Pexels

In this post, we’ll learn vocabulary and expressions that will let you talk about 家族 kazoku family .

何人家族ですか。 Nan’nin kazoku desu ka. How many people are there in your family?

Let’s start with some basic expressions. Remember that in Japanese you use different family terms depending on whether you’re talking about your own family, or someone else’s. It can sound impolite if you mix these up, so it’s important to learn both. In the following list, the first term is what you’d use to talk about your own family, and the second is what you’d use to talk about someone else’s. 母 haha  / お母さん okāsan mother (one’s own / someone else’s) ; 父 chichi  / お父さん otōsan father ; 兄 ani / お兄さん onīsan older brother ; 弟 otōto / 弟さん otōtosan younger brother ; 姉 ane  / お姉さん onēsan   older sister ; 妹 imōto  / 妹さん  imōtosan younger sister ; 娘 musume  / 娘さん、お嬢さん musumesan, ojōsan daughter ; 息子 musuko / 息子さん  musukosan son , 両親 ryōshin  / ご両親 goryōshin parents ; 子供 kodomo / お子さん okosan   children.

• うちは｛二人・三人 ・四人 ・五人 ｝家族です。 Uchi wa {futari/san’nin/yonin/gonin} kazoku desu. There are two/three/four/five people in my family.
• 母は医者です。父は教師です。 Haha wa isha desu. Chichi wa kyōshi desu. My mother is a doctor. My father is a teacher.

• 兄弟はいますか。 Kyōdai wa imasu ka. Do you have brothers or sisters?
• 姉が一人と弟が一人います。 Ane ga hitori to otōto ga hitori imasu. I have one older sister and one younger brother.
• 男兄弟が三人います。 Otoko kyōdai ga san’nin imasu. I have three brothers.
• 女兄弟が二人います。 On’na kyōdai ga futari imasu. I have two sisters.
• 私は一人っ子です。 Watashi wa hitorikko desu. I am an only child.
• お子さんはいますか。 Okosan wa imasu ka. Do you have any children?
• 息子が一人と娘が一人います。 Musuko ga hitori to musume ga hitori imasu. We have a son and a daughter.
• 家族で一番｛年上・年下｝は誰ですか。 Kazoku de ichiban {toshiue/toshishita} wa dare desu ka. Who is the oldest/youngest in your family?

こちらは私のおばです。 Kochira wa watashi no oba desu. This is my aunt.

Now let’s look at some vocabulary for extended family: 親戚 shinseki relatives ; 祖父母 sofubo grandparents ; 祖母 sobo / おばあさん obāsan grandmother (one’s own / someone else’s) ; 祖父 sofu  / おじいさん ojīsan grandfather ; 孫 mago  / お孫さん   omagosan   grandson ; 孫娘 magomusume granddaughter ; おば   oba  / おばさん   obasan aunt ; おじ oji  / おじさん ojisan uncle ; いとこ itoko cousin ; 姪、姪っ子 mei, meikko / 姪御さん   meigosan niece ; 甥、甥っ子 oi, oikko  / 甥御さん oigosan nephew .

• 親戚にどのぐらいよく会いますか。 Shinseki ni donogurai yoku aimasu ka. How often do you see your relatives?
• おじいさんとおばあさんはどこに住んでいますか。 Ojīsan to obāsan wa doko ni sunde imasu ka. Where do you grandparents live?
• 祖母はまだ働いていますが、祖父は退職しました。 Sobo wa mada hataraite imasu ga, sofu wa taishoku shimashita. My grandmother is still working, but my grandfather is retired.
• 孫が三人います。男の子が一人と、女の子が二人です。 Mago ga san’nin imasu. Otokonoko ga hitori to, on’nanoko ga futari desu. We have three grandchildren: one boy and two girls.
• おばとおじは家の近くに住んでいます。 Oba to oji wa uchi no chikaku ni sunde imasu. My aunt and uncle live near our house.
• いとこがたくさんいます。 Itoko ga takusan imasu. I have a lot of cousins.
• 姪は大学に入りました。 Mei wa daigaku ni hairimashita. My niece just started university.
• 甥が四人います。 Oi ga yonin imasu. I have four nephews.

赤ちゃんがいます。 Akachan ga imasu. We have a baby.

Now let’s look at some vocabulary related to family: 妻、家内 tsuma, kanai  / 奥さん、奥様 okusan, okusama wife (one’s own / someone else’s) ;   夫、主人、旦那 otto, shujin, dan’na  / ご主人、旦那さん、旦那様 goshujin, dan’nasan, dan’nasama husband ; 彼 kare boyfriend ; 彼女 kanojo girlfriend ; 赤ちゃん akachan baby ; 妊娠 ninshinsuru pregnant ; 養子にする yōshi ni suru to adopt ; 結婚する kekkonsuru to get married ; 離婚する rikonsuru to get divorced ; 独身 dokushin single/unmarried ; 生まれる umareru to be born; 亡くなっている nakunatte iru dead ; 生きている ikite iru alive ; 義父 gifu / 義理のお父さん giri no otōsan stepfather ; 義母 gibo  / 義理のお母さん   giri no ok āsan stepmother ; 義理の息子 giri no musuko  / 義理の息子さん   giri no musukosan stepson ; 義理の娘 giri no musume  / 義理の娘さん   giri no musumesan stepdaughter .

• 結婚していますか。それとも独身ですか。 Kekkon shite imasu ka. Soretomo dokushin desu ka. Are you married or single?
• ｛奥さん・旦那さん｝のお仕事は何ですか。 {Okusan/Dan’nasan} no oshigoto wa nan desu ka. What does your wife/husband do for a living?
• いつ結婚しましたか。 Itsu kekkon shimashita ka. When did you get married?
• 私たちは結婚して20年です。今週末は結婚記念日です。 Watashitachi wa kekkon shite nijūnen desu. Konshūmatsu wa kekkon kinenbi desu. We’ve been married for twenty years. Our wedding anniversary is this weekend.
• 妻は妊娠しています。あと二か月で赤ちゃんが生まれます。 Tsuma wa ninshinshite imasu. Ato nikagetsu de akachan ga umaremasu. My wife is pregnant. We’re having a baby in two months.
• ｛彼・彼女｝の名前は何ですか。 {Kare/Kanojo} no namae wa nan desu ka. What is your boyfriend’s/girlfriend’s name?
• 両親は離婚しています。 Ryōshin wa rikonshite imasu. My parents are divorced.
• 養子縁組をします。 Yōshi engumi o shimasu. We’re going to adopt a child.
• ｛息子さん・娘さん｝はいつ生まれましたか。 {Musukosan/Musumesan} wa itsu umaremashita ka. When was your son/daughter born?
• 私は養子の子供です。 Watashi wa yōshi no kodomo desu. I was adopted.
• 祖母は生きていますが、祖父は亡くなりました。 Sobo wa ikite imasu ga, sofu wa nakunarimashita. My grandmother is alive, but my grandfather is dead.
• ｛義父・義母｝とはうまくやっています。 {Giru/Gibo} towa umaku yatte imasu. I have a good relationship with my stepfather/stepmother.
• ｛義理の娘・義理の息子｝と一緒に住んでいます。 {Giri no musume/Giri no musuko} to issho ni sunde imasu. My stepdaughter/stepson lives with us.
• 家族は犬と猫を飼っています。 Kazoku wa inu to neko o katte imasu. My family has a dog and a cat.

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How to Say Family in Japanese (and Family Members)

It’s no secret that Japan is a very family-oriented culture. Japanese strongly value bonding with their blood relatives, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Common Japanese practices like going out for drinks with your boss and co-workers after work or cleaning the school with your classmates foster a similar close-knit family environment between peers. 

Considering the concept of family in Japan is so extensive, it makes sense there would be a similarly vast amount of words to say family in the language. This article will cover the most common ways to say family and each family member in Japanese.  

1. 家族 (Kazoku) – Family; Family Members

The most common way to say family in Japanese is 家族 (kazoku) . This word is made up of the 家 (ie) kanji and the 族 (zoku) kanji . In Japanese, 家 (i.e.) means home, and 族 (zoku) means tribe or clan. Chances are you’ll see one or the other in many Japanese words related to family – many of which we will go over in this article! 

When talking about your family, you can use 家族 (kazoku) in sentences with or without a possessive pronoun. To say the possessive pronoun “ my” in Japanese, we use the pronoun for I : 私 (watashi) with the possessive particle の (no) .

Examples:                                 

1. 毎年、私の家族は日本に行く。 (Maitoshi, watashi no kazoku wa Nihon ni iku.)  My family travels to Japan every year.

毎年、家族は日本に行く。                       (Maitoshi, kazoku wa Nihon ni iku.)     My family travels to Japan every year. (without the possessive particle の)      

2. 私の家族は５人です。 (Watashi no kazoku wa gonin desu.) There are five members in my family.      

家族は５人です。   (Kazoku wa go nin desu.)     There are five members in my family. (no possessive particle)

Talking About Someone Else’s Family in Japanese

If you want to use 家族 ( kazoku ) to talk about someone else’s family, you can use a possessive pronoun or the person’s name. To say the possessive pronouns “ his/her” in Japanese, we use the pronouns for he : 彼 (kare) and she : 彼女 (kanojo) with the possessive particle の (no) .

1. 毎年、彼の家族は日本に行く。      ( Maitoshi, kare no kazoku wa Nihon ni iku.)                    His family travels to Japan every year.                       

2. リナさんの家族は５人です。 (Rina-san no kazoku wa go nin desu.) There are five members in Rina’s family.

Talking Directly to Someone About Their Family in Japanese

If you want to use 家族 (kazoku) to talk to someone about their own family, you can use a possessive pronoun, their name, or an honorific, depending on the situation. 

For example, say you’re making small talk with your acquaintance Tanaka- san and want to ask him where his family lives. Your gut reaction may be to use the Japanese pronoun for you : あなた (anata) . However, we want to actively avoid using あなた (anata) as much as possible when speaking in Japanese. It can come off a bit too blunt or even be seen as rude, especially when talking with someone you don’t know very well.

To get around this, we can replace あなた (anata) with the person’s name.

あなた の家族はどこの国にいますか？ ( Anata no kazoku wa doko no kuni ni imasu ka?)  What country does your family reside in?

田中さんの家族はどこの国にいますか？ (Tanaka-san no kazoku wa doko no kuni ni imasu ka?)  What country does your family reside in, Tanaka?

Another option would be to use the honorific ご (go) in front of 家族 (kazoku) . Like the honorific お (o), this is used to sound more polite when referring to another person we are not especially close with. It’s also a great way to avoid directly using あなた (anata) or the other person’s name!

ご家族はどこの国にいますか？ (Gokazoku wa doko no kuni ni imasu ka?)  What country does your family reside in?

There are a few other ways we can refer to another person’s family in Japanese, which we will cover more of them in detail later in the article.

3. うち (Uchi) – Family; One’s Home/Place

うち (uchi) is a more informal way to say family in Japanese. Although its meaning and usage are similar to 家族 (kazoku) and 家庭 (katei) , you will generally want to reserve using this term in casual conversations with people you are close with like friends and relatives. 

1. うちは猫を飼っているの。 ( Uchi wa neko o katteiru no.) My family has a pet cat.

2. 今夜、うちに来ない？ (Konya, uchi ni konai?) Want to come over to my place tonight?

5. Using the 族 (-Zoku) Suffix

In Japanese, 族 (zoku) means family, tribe, or clan. We can use the 族 (-zoku) kanji to refer to tribes and races of historical significance or prominent standing.

  [Tribe Name] + 族 Suffix = The ______ Tribe

Family Members in Japanese

Below is a list of basic terms we use to refer to family members in Japanese. Words in the formal columns can refer to members of our family (when talking to them directly) or another person’s family. In contrast, terms in the casual columns are generally reserved for only referring to our family members (when speaking to someone outside of our family).

Speaking to Others About Your Family in Japanese:

You may be wondering why respectful words like お母さん (okāsan) or お父さん (otōsan) are used with people you are close with (or when speaking directly to that relative). Shouldn’t respectful and polite words be used with people who are you not close with? Yes! But we also want to speak humbly.

This means that when we speak directly to someone, we want to “honor” them with polite and respectful language. That’s why we use respectful words like お母さん (okāsan) or お父さん (otōsan) when we speak directly to our mother or father. However, when we speak about our family to someone we should respect (your boss, strangers, people older than you, etc.) we need to refer to our family members humbly .

Using words like お母さん (okāsan) or お父さん (otōsan) to talk about your mother and father with your boss would sound childish and even rude. This is like you are saying “my honorable mother and father” and putting them on a pedestal. That’s why when we talk to people we want to show respect to, we use the words 母 (haha) and 父 (chichi) instead.

If you would like to know more about speaking polite and respectful Japanese, check out our guide on keigo : honorific Japanese.

For a closer look at how we refer to our immediate family in Japanese, check out these articles!

Grandparents and Great-Grandparents

Referring to our grandparents in Japanese is quite simple. We add the kanji for Ancestor : 祖 (so) as a prefix to the common words for parents.

Talking About Our Grandparents to Other People

To refer to our great-grandparents in Japanese, we simply add the kanji for Great : 曽 (sou) as a prefix to these words.

Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins in Japanese

In Japanese, おばさん (oba-san) means aunt and おじさん (o ji-san) means uncle. You can also refer to them in a more informal manner by simply lopping off the さん (-san) honorific, although it isn’t as common. Kanji are occasionally used to differentiate whether the aunt/uncle is older: 伯母 (oba) / 伯父 (oji) or younger 叔母 (oba) / 叔父 (oji) than one’s parent, but most of the time you will want to use these words in regular hiragana . 

The word for cousin in Japanese is いとこ (itoko) . Although you will generally see this word in regular hiragana , kanji are occasionally used to differentiate whether the cousin is a female or a male. This is done by adding the kanji for Secondary : 従 (J ū ) as a prefix to the common words for sisters and brothers.

In-Laws in Japanese

To refer to our in-laws in Japanese, we add the kanji for Honor : 義 (gi) as a prefix to the common words for parents and siblings.

* *Note: The words using 義 in the chart above ( 義母 (gibo), 義父 (gifu), 義姉 ( gishi ), 義兄 ( gikei ), etc.) are not used for speaking.  They are more formal and are used mainly for writing.  

We can use the above terms to refer to our in-laws in the third person. However, it’s important we use formalities like the お (o) and さん (-san) honorific when speaking with them directly. In Japanese, we commonly call our mother-in-law お義母さん (okā-san) and our father-in-law お義父さん (otō-san) as we do with our own parents.

Speaking to Your Mother-in-Law Directly Example:

お義母さん、今週末一緒に昼食を食べるのはどうですか？ (Okāsan, konsh ū matsu issho ni ch ū shoku o taberu no wa dō desu ka?) Would you like to have lunch with me this weekend?

Let’s Recap!

If you’re a little overwhelmed by the various ways you can say family in Japanese, that’s okay! Going with the commonly-used 家族 (kazoku) will do the trick in most situations.

Remember to use honorifics when referring to another person’s family or when speaking directly to your own older family members.

How do you say family in your native language? Let us know in the comments below!

Interested in learning more? Take a look at some of our other Japanese language guides here ! 

Sara Ceasrine

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