Family Words and Terms in Japanese Explained (2024)

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Family Terms in Japanese

Understanding and using family words in any language can be complex and nuanced, and Japanese is no exception. Japanese family terms go beyond the basic mother, father, brother, and sister, offering a rich array of designations based on age, gender, and marital status.

This article will introduce you to the basic family words in Japanese and provide some insights into their usage and cultural context.

Interested in learning more about Japanese? See the last page of the PDF in the free download for a special coupon to get $5 off anything at TheJapanShop.com.

Basics of Family Words in Japanese

You may know that many words in Japanese have multiple versions depending on:

    1. Who is speaking
    2. To whom he or she is speaking
    3. and the level of formality of the occasion.

Uchi and Soto

Think of it as two circles:

  • One for talking about your own family to others (uchi, or "my house (circle of friends and family)"),
  • And one for addressing others' family members (soto, or "outside").

    Family Words and Terms in Japanese Explained (3)Family Words and Terms in Japanese Explained (4)

    The former is more informal, while the latter is considered polite. For instance, "haha" is used to refer to your own mother, while "okaasan" is used when talking about someone else's mother.But both haha and okaasan mean “mother.”

    Vocabulary List

    Let's start with the main family words and then we will break it down into the nitty-gritty regarding usage.

      • 家族 kazoku family
      • お父さん otousan father
      • お母さん okaasan mother
      • 両親 ryoushin (both) parents
      • 息子 musuko son
      • musume daughter
      • ani older brother
      • otouto younger brother
      • ane older sister
      • imouto younger sister
      • おじいさん ojiisan grandfather
      • おばあさんobaasangrandmother
      • otto husband
      • tsuma wife
      • 赤ちゃん akachan baby
      • 義理の父 giri no chichi father-in-law or stepfather
      • 義理の母 giri no haha mother-in-law or stepmother
      • 継子 mamako stepchild [The "mama" here doesn't mean "mother" but rather "to inherit" or "to continue" or "to succeed"]

    The above lists the most common and useful terms of family relationships. However, it should be noted that there are different words used whether you are talking about your own family or talking about someone else’s family. Japanese also distinguishes between older and younger siblings.

    And… there are many more kinship terms one might use. For example, a wife speaking to her friend might call her husband うちの人 uchi no hito [literally, our (family's) person], but this list covers the most useful words. (Want to know a distant family term? Leave a comment below and we will be sure to add it!)

    When to Use What Word?

    As I mentioned at the top, these family terms have an honorific (尊敬 sonkei) and humble (謙譲 kenjou) form. Which one to use is determined by who you are speaking to and how formal the situation is.

    Here are a few situations:

    • Referring to someone else's family [honorific]
    • Referring to one's own family members in a casual situation (among friends) [honorific or other terms]
    • Referring to one's own family members in a formal situation or to people with a higher status (your boss) [humble]
    • Speaking to your family members directly [somewhat honorific except for younger siblings; you may use the more casual ちゃん honorific instead of さん]
    Family Words and Terms in Japanese Explained (5)

    TERMS OF FAMILY RELATIONSHIP

    Referring to someone else's family

    My family (casual with friends)

    My family (formal)

    To my family members

    Father

    お父さん
    otousan

    お父さん
    otousan


    chichi

    お父さん・パパ
    otousan / papa

    Mother

    お母さん
    okaasan

    お母さん
    okaasan


    haha

    お母さん・ママ
    okaasan / mama

    Older Brother

    お兄さん
    oniisan

    お兄さん・
    お兄ちゃん
    oniisan /
    oniichan


    ani

    お兄ちゃん
    oniichan

    Older Sister

    お姉さん
    oneesan

    お姉さん・お姉ちゃん
    oneesan /
    oneechan


    ane

    お姉ちゃん
    oneechan

    Younger Brother

    弟さん
    otoutosan


    otouto


    otouto

    Given name

    Younger Sister

    妹さん
    imoutosan


    imouto


    imouto

    Given name

    Grandfather

    おじいさん
    ojiisan

    おじいさん・おじいちゃん
    ojiisan /
    ojiichan

    祖父
    sofu

    おじいちゃん
    ojiichan

    Grandmother

    おばあさん
    obaasan

    おばあさん・おばあちゃん
    obaasan /
    obaachan

    祖母
    sobo

    おばあちゃん
    obaachan

    Husband

    ご主人
    goshujin

    旦那
    danna

    主人・夫
    shujin/otto

    お父さん
    otousan
    (with children)

    Wife

    奥さん
    okusan

    奥さん
    okusan

    妻・家内
    tsuma/kanai

    お母さん
    okaasan
    (with children)

    Age and Status

    Age and status play a significant role in Japanese language and culture. When addressing family members, it is customary to include honorifics that denote respect. For instance, "-san" is a general honorific used for both genders and all ages. It shows respect and is similar to "Mr." or "Ms." in English. Other honorifics include "-chan" (used for girls, close friends, and pets), "-kun" (used for boys and close friends), and "-sama" (a more respectful version of "-san").

    Moreover, words can change depending on whether you're an older or younger sibling. For example, an elder sibling would refer to their younger brother as "otouto," while the younger brother would refer to their elder sibling as "ani" or "oneesan" depending on the gender.

    For more on name honorifics, see our free lesson page here:
    https://thejapanesepage.com/what-does-san-mean-japanese/

    As mentioned before, honorifics are often attached to family words to show respect. However, they are not typically used when referring to your own family members in conversation with outsiders, as it might be seen as arrogant. On the other hand, you should use honorifics when addressing or referring to someone else's family members.

    You might be thinking why say the honorific among friends? Using the humble form would place you beneath the person with whom you are conversing. But you can also use other non-honorific terms (such as the above mentioned うちの人uchi no hitofor one's husband or うちの子uchi no kofor one's child).

    The other question you might have is why not use honorifics for younger siblings? The terms are from the perspective of the younger child. This is because Japanese culture highly values age and experience. Younger siblings use the honorific titles for the older siblings, but younger or equal siblings are usually simply addressed by their given name.

    In Yumi's case, she has a younger brother and a younger sister. Since she is the eldest, her mother calls her お姉ちゃんoneechan, but her younger siblings are called by their given names.

    Conclusion

    Family words in Japanese offer a fascinating insight into Japanese culture and society, revealing the importance of respect, hierarchy, and relationships. However, they can be complicated for learners due to the dual system of uchi and soto words, and the need to choose the correct honorifics. With practice and patience, learners can master these terms and gain a deeper understanding of Japanese language and culture.

    ----

    Download this lesson free of charge by clicking here.

    Family Words and Terms in Japanese Explained (6)

    Family Words and Terms in Japanese Explained (2024)

    FAQs

    What is the concept of family in Japan? ›

    Family (kazoku) is a foundational part of Japanese society. An individual's identity, reputation, obligations and responsibilities are deeply connected to their family. Japanese family structures have been influenced by Confucian ideas of filial piety and defined hierarchical social relationships over the centuries.

    What is the Japanese word for family? ›

    The accurate word for “family” in Japanese is 家族 (かぞく, kazoku). This term encompasses the nuclear family and can extend to include extended family members depending on the context.

    How do Japanese people refer to family members? ›

    Commonly used are: oniisan - older brother oneesan - older sister otousan - father okaasan - mother obasan - aunt ojisan - uncle obaasan - grandmother ojiisan - grandfather I remember the first time I was referred to as "oniisan" in Japan.

    What is the meaning of family in Japan? ›

    Indian (mainly Gujarat): Lohana and Vaishya name from Sindh presumably derived from the personal name of an ancestor beginning with Jas- + the suffix -ani 'descendant of' (see Ani ).

    Who has the highest authority in a Japanese family? ›

    Japan's traditional social hierarchy developed to maintain order within the extended family. Each family member had a clearly defined status. At the top was the head of the household, usually the father. The family head had absolute authority over the family.

    What is the structure of the Japanese family? ›

    The ie is a patriarchal household and is considered to consist of grandparents, their son, his wife and their children. In a "traditional" Japanese household, the eldest son inherits the household property as well as the responsibility of taking care of his parents as they age.

    What is the meaning of onii chan? ›

    onii-chan (plural onii-chans) (Japanese, childish, often as a term of address) Older brother.

    Why do Japanese people say their family name first? ›

    As is common in East Asian cultures, in Japanese the family name always comes first. National pride motivates many advocates of the change. From a Japanese perspective, writes Peter Tasker, a Tokyo-based commentator, in the Nikkei Asian Review, it represents “authenticity and normalisation”.

    Do siblings call each other by name in Japan? ›

    Even then they'll almost always use the honorific suffix -san when talking about them to another person. Older siblings might use just the first name alone but younger siblings will generally use nii-san for older brother and nee-chan for older sister.

    What symbolizes family in Japan? ›

    As the coat of arms represents an individual, even the holder's parents and siblings use different symbols on the shield, while in Japan the Kamon represents the "house" and the "family." So the whole family, not just parents and siblings, use the same Kamon.

    How do Japanese greet family? ›

    In countries like Australia, it's common to hug as a greeting among close friends or family. In contrast, Japanese culture emphasises bowing, regardless of whether you're standing or sitting.

    What do Japanese children call their father? ›

    As a quick-and-simple rough equivalency list you can generally think of otou-san as “dad,” otou-sama as “father,” and otou-chan as “daddy.” Speaking of politeness, the o at the start of otou-san is itself a politeness-boosting prefix, so you can remove it and just say tou-san or tou-chan.

    What represents family in Japanese culture? ›

    As the coat of arms represents an individual, even the holder's parents and siblings use different symbols on the shield, while in Japan the Kamon represents the "house" and the "family." So the whole family, not just parents and siblings, use the same Kamon.

    Who typically makes up a family in Japan? ›

    The two generation nuclear family consisting of the parents and their unmarried children has become the popular model of the modern family in Japan, as it was in America decades ago.

    What are the family values and gender roles in Japan? ›

    For example, it is common for men to be expected to take charge of financial matters and decision-making for the family, while women are often expected to take care of the children and manage the household. These expectations can vary depending on the individual family and the personalities of the individuals involved.

    What family traditions does Japan have? ›

    Some of the interesting traditions that surprise foreigners are:
    • Taking off shoes when entering someone's house.
    • Wearing a mask when sick.
    • Not shaking hands and not hugging when meeting with loved ones.
    • Bowing 45 degrees to show respect.
    • Making the slurping sound when eating noodles.

    References

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