Language/Japanese/Vocabulary/Family-Members-and-Titles

Japanese Vocabulary → Family and Social Relations → Family Members and Titles

As a Japanese language teacher for two decades, I have seen how essential it is to learn the proper titles and honorifics when addressing family members and relatives in Japanese. Not only does this reflect the respect and courtesy expected in Japanese culture, but it also sets a good foundation for developing interpersonal relationships. In this lesson, we will learn how to introduce family members and relatives in Japanese and use the appropriate titles and honorifics.

Basic Family Members

In Japanese, the word for "family" is "kazoku" (家族), and the basic family members are:

• Father: "chichi" (父) or "otōsan" (お父さん)
• Mother: "haha" (母) or "okāsan" (お母さん)
• Older brother: "ani" (兄) or "onīsan" (お兄さん)
• Younger brother: "otōto" (弟) or "oniisan" (弟さん)
• Older sister: "ane" (姉) or "oneesan" (お姉さん)
• Younger sister: "imōto" (妹) or "oneesan" (妹さん)

It is important to note that Japanese is a high-context language, and therefore, some words can be shortened or truncated depending on the familiarity and politeness level between the speaker and the listener. For instance, "o-" is a prefix that adds politeness and respect to some family titles, such as "otōsan" (father) and "okāsan" (mother).

Another essential aspect of family relations in Japan is the hierarchy and respect based on age and position. In Japanese culture, the elder members of the family are considered the head and receive the utmost respect and honor. Therefore, addressing and referring to older siblings, cousins, uncles, and aunts require using the appropriate hierarchical titles and honorifics.

Extended Family Members

In addition to the basic family members, Japanese has specific words and titles for different extended family members, such as grandparents, cousins, and in-laws.

• Grandfather: "sofu" (祖父) or "ojīsan" (お爺さん)
• Grandmother: "sobo" (祖母) or "obāsan" (お婆さん)
• Paternal grandfather: "sofu" (祖父) or "ojīsan" (お爺さん) + paternal surname + "ji"
• Paternal grandmother: "sobo" (祖母) or "obāsan" (お婆さん) + paternal surname + "ba"
• Maternal grandfather: "sofu" (祖父) or "ojīsan" (お爺さん) + maternal surname + "jii"
• Maternal grandmother: "sobo" (祖母) or "obāsan" (お婆さん) + maternal surname + "bā"
• Uncle (father's brother): "o-jisan" (おじさん)
• Aunt (father's sister): "o-basan" (おばさん)
• Aunt (mother's sister): "o-tē" (お姉さん) or "o-bāsan" (お婆さん)
• Cousin: "itoko" (従兄弟/従姉妹)

It is worth noting that the above titles may change depending on the region or family tradition. Additionally, Japanese society has some distinctive customs and practices concerning the roles and responsibilities of family members, such as the importance of filial piety, ancestor worship, and family gatherings during significant events and holidays.

Examples

Here are some examples of how to introduce family members in Japanese using the appropriate titles and honorifics:

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
私の父は、お父さんです	"Watashi no chichi wa, otōsan desu."	My father is "otōsan".
あの女性は、私のお母さんです	"Ano josei wa, watashi no okāsan desu."	That woman is my "okāsan".
あなたの兄弟は何人いますか？	"Anata no kyōdai wa nan-nin imasu ka?"	How many siblings do you have?
あの方は私のおじさんです	"Ano kata wa watashi no o-jisan desu."	That person is my uncle.

Conclusion

Learning how to address and introduce family members and relatives in Japanese can be a good starting point for understanding Japanese culture and developing meaningful relationships with Japanese people. By using the appropriate titles and honorifics, you show respect and consideration towards others, which is a core value in Japanese society. It is essential to also keep in mind that some words and titles can vary depending on the context and the region. Therefore, it is always best to learn from native speakers and practice as much as possible.

Sources

• Family Words and Terms in Japanese Explained
• Japanese Vocabulary Related to the Concept of Family
• Learn How to Talk About Your Family in Japanese
• Japanese Honorifics: How to Show Respect in Japanese

Table of Contents - Japanese Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Hiragana Basics

• Hiragana Reading and Writing Practice
• Introduction to Japanese Sentence Structure
• Particle は and が
• Verb Conjugation
• Noun and Adjective Modification
• Question Words and Phrases

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings
• Introducing Yourself and Others
• Describing People
• Counting Numbers and Time
• Basic Food and Drink Terminology
• Daily Activities and Hobbies
• Basic Directions and Transportation

  ---

Geography and History

• Introduction to Japanese Geography
• Brief History of Japan
• Traditional Arts and Customs
• Popular Culture and Entertainment

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Conjugation
• Adjective Types and Usage
• Adverb Types and Usage
• Comparison and Superlative
• Adjective and Adverbial Modification

  ---

Family and Social Relations

• Family Members and Titles
• Social Etiquette and Expressions
• Basic Workplace and Business Terminology
• Shopping and Consumer Culture

  ---

Religion and Philosophy

• Shinto and Buddhism
• Zen and Samurai Culture
• Contemporary Spiritual Movements

  ---

Particles and Conjunctions

• Particles に and で
• Particles へ and を
• Particles も and しか
• Conjunctions and Compound Sentences
• Conditional and Hypothetical Sentences

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Travel and Tourism

• Basic Travel and Tourism Vocabulary
• Famous Tourist Attractions and Landmarks
• Japanese Hospitality and Service Culture

  ---

Education and Science

• Educational System and Vocabulary
• Traditional and Modern Science and Technology
• Natural Disasters and Risk Prevention

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Prepositions and Interjections

• Prepositions and Postpositions
• Emphasis and Intensification
• Exclamation and Impression Expressions

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Arts and Media

• Film and Theater Terminology
• Music and Dance Terminology
• Art and Literature Terminology

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Politics and Society

• Basic Political Vocabulary
• Social Issues and Controversies
• Japanese Business and Work Culture

Related Lessons

• Food
• Japanese Hospitality and Service Culture
• Glossary of Japanese martial arts
• Colors
• Useful phrases
• Describing People
• Acronyms
• Transport
• Count from 1 to 10