Language/Japanese/Vocabulary/Family

Hello Japanese learners! 😊

In this lesson, you will learn how to write and pronounce the family members in japanese.

Family is said : Kazoku 家族

Direct Relatives

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

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

日本語	Rōmaji	English
親 両親	oya ryōshin	my parent(s)
甥	oi	nephew
姪	mei	niece
独身者	dokushin-sha	single, bachelor
既婚者	kikon-sha	married
夫	otto	my husband
妻	tsuma	my wife, my spouse
男 男性	otoko dansei	man male
若者	waka-mono	young man
男の子	otoko-no-ko	young boy
少年	shōnen	boy
女 女性	onna josei	woman female
女の子	onna-no-ko	young girl
少女	shōjo	girl
息子 - むすこ	musuko	my son
孫息子	mago-musuko	my grandson
娘 - むすめ	musume	my daughter
孫娘	mago-musume	my granddaughter
双子	futago	my twin
人	hito, nin	person
大人	otona	adult
ティーンエイジャー	tiin-eijaa	teenager
子供	ko-domo	my child
赤ちゃん , 赤ん坊	akachan, akanbō	baby
新生児	shin-seiji	newborn
友人 友達	yuujin tomodachi	friend
彼氏 , 恋人 彼女 , 恋人	kareshi, koi-bito kano-jo, koi-bito	boyfriend girlfriend
客	kyaku	guest
隣人	rinjin	neighbor

日本語	Rōmaji	English
兄弟 - きょうだい	kyōdai	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	my elder brother my younger brother
姉妹 - しまい	shimai	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	my elder sister my younger sister

PRECISIONS

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.

Authors

BriceJ

Sources

Image cover: https://www.japanesepod101.com/blog/2019/12/06/japanese-family-words/