Language/Japanese/Vocabulary/Family

This lesson can still be improved. EDIT IT NOW! & become VIP

Rate this lesson:

5.00

(one vote)

Help - Comments

Hello Japanese learners! 😊

In this lesson, you will learn how to write and pronounce the family members in Japanese. Family is an essential part of Japanese culture, and understanding the vocabulary related to it will help you communicate better with native speakers.

Family is said : Kazoku 家族

After mastering this lesson, you can also explore other related topics such as Japanese numbers, Japanese bird names, and Japanese nature vocabulary. These lessons will further expand your knowledge of the Japanese language and help you become more fluent. Enjoy your learning journey! 🌸

Direct Relatives[edit | edit source]

This first table describes the members of your own family:

Male family members			Female family members
Grandfather	祖父	Sofu	Grandmother	祖母	Sobo
Father	父	Chichi	Mother	母	Haha
Uncle	叔父	Oji	Aunt	叔母	Oba
Husband	夫	Otto	Wife	妻	Tsuma
Older brother	兄	Ani	Older sister	姉	Ane
Younger brother	弟	Otouto	Younger sister	妹	Imouto
Son	息子	Musuko	Daughter	娘	Musume
Grandson	甥	おい	Granddaughter	姪	めい

Enlarged relatives[edit | edit source]

This table is made for talking about family of somebody else.

For example your wife's / husband's family.

Male family members		Female family members
Grandfather	Ojiisan	Grandmother	Obaasan
Father	Otousan	Mother	Okaasan
Uncle	Ojisan	Aunt	Obasan
Husband	Danna	Wife	Okusan
Older brother	Oniisan	Older sister	Oneesan
Younger brother	Otoutosan	Younger sister	Imoutosan
Son	Musukosan	Daughter	Musumesan
Brother	Kyoudai	Sister	Shimai

Kanjis are the same for both Own and other's family, that's why I didn't rewrite them in the second table.

About husband (your, her...), it is a little bit particular. Sometimes, you can find the for "Goshuujinsama".

This is old style using by female.

It includes a notion of "lord" or "master" so it it should be a little bit abrupt or shocking.

That's why younger women prefer to use "danna".

More words[edit | edit source]

English	Japanese (日本語)	Japanese (Rōmaji)
my parent(s)	親両親	oya ryōshin
nephew	甥	oi
niece	姪	mei
single, bachelor	独身者	dokushin-sha
married	既婚者	kikon-sha
my husband	夫	otto
my wife, my spouse	妻	tsuma
man male	男男性	otoko dansei
young man	若者	waka-mono
young boy	男の子	otoko-no-ko
boy	少年	shōnen
woman female	女女性	onna josei
young girl	女の子	onna-no-ko
girl	少女	shōjo
my son	息子 - むすこ	musuko
my grandson	孫息子	mago-musuko
my daughter	娘 - むすめ	musume
my granddaughter	孫娘	mago-musume
my twin	双子	futago
person	人	hito, nin
adult	大人	otona
teenager	ティーンエイジャー	tiin-eijaa
my child	子供	ko-domo
baby	赤ちゃん , 赤ん坊	akachan, akanbō
newborn	新生児	shin-seiji
friend	友人友達	yuujin tomodachi
boyfriend girlfriend	彼氏 , 恋人彼女 , 恋人	kareshi, koi-bito kano-jo, koi-bito
guest	客	kyaku
neighbor	隣人	rinjin
brother	兄弟 - きょうだい	kyōdai
my elder brother my younger brother	兄 , 兄上（あにうえ） , お兄様 , おにいちゃん弟 , 弟君（おとうとぎみ） , 弟さん	ani otōto
sister	姉妹 - しまい	shimai
my elder sister my younger sister	姉 , 姉上 , お姉様 , おねえちゃん妹 , 妹君（いもうとぎみ） , 妹さん	ane imōto

PRECISIONS[edit | edit source]

One particularity of japanese language is you'll not going to use the same vocabulary if you are talking your family or the one's other.

You also must pay attention to some words which has only one letter of difference. For example Obaasan and obasan.

Sometimes also, you simply add the suffix -san to talk someone's other relative.

Example : Musume : MY daughter // Musume-SAN : YOUR daughter

There is also some kanji combination to express relation between people.

If you want to indicate the sister is older and the brother is younger you just have to associate the right kanji 弟姉 on the right order and it's going well.