Japanese Family Members
Words and Vocabulary

There are two different ways of addressing Japanese family members.

One of them is when talking about your own family members to other people, and the other one is when mentioning someone's family members.

Japanese Family Members Vocabulary

Japanese has this culture that they need to pay respect (尊敬 - そんけい sonkei) to other people when mentioning someone's family members.

While at the same time they have to be modest (謙譲 - けんじょう kenjou) when mentioning their own family members.

Therefore if they have to mention someone's family members in a conversation, they will address them with the words that are more respectful for the Japanese family members.

Whereas if they are talking about their own family members, they address them with the words that will express their modesty.

Let's check out what we have for own family members in the following list.

My Own Japanese Family Members

Japanese Family Members Vocabulary: My Family

The following is the word list for one's own Japanese family members.

Kanji Hiragana or
Katakana		 Romaji Meaning
1. 家族 かぞく kazoku Family / Family Members
2. 祖父 そふ sofu Grandfather
3. 祖母 そぼ sobo Grandmother
4. 伯父 おじ oji Uncle (Older than Parent)
5. 叔父 おじ oji Uncle (Younger than Parent)
6. 伯母 おば oba Aunt (Older than Parent)
7. 叔母 おば oba Aunt (Younger than Parent)
8. 両親 りょうしん ryoushin Parents
9. 父 ちち chichi Father
10. 母 はは haha Mother
11. 兄弟 きょうだい kyoudai Siblings / Brothers
12. 姉妹 しまい shimai Sisters
13. 兄 あに ani Older Brother
14. 姉 あね ane Older Sister
15. 弟 おとうと otouto Younger Brother
16. 妹 いもうと imouto Younger Sister
17. 夫婦 ふうふ fuufu Married Couple / Husband and Wife
18. 主人 しゅじん shujin Husband
19. 夫 おっと otto Husband
20. 家内 かない kanai Wife
21. 妻 つま tsuma Wife
22. 従兄弟 いとこ itoko Cousin (Male)
23. 従姉妹 いとこ itoko Cousin (Female)
24. 子供 こども kodomo Children
25. 息子 むすこ musuko Son
26. 娘 むすめ musume Daughter
27. 甥 おい oi Nephew
28. 姪 めい mei Niece
29. 孫 まご mago Grandchild
30. 義理の兄 ぎりのあに giri no ani Brother-in-law (older than you)
31. 義理の弟 ぎりのおとうと giri no otouto Brother-in-law (younger than you)
32. 義理の息子 ぎりのむすこ giri no musuko Son-in-law
33. 義理の～ ぎりの～ giri no ~ ~-in-law

Someone's Japanese Family Members

Japanese Family Members Vocabulary: Someone's Family

The following is the word list for someone's Japanese family members.

Kanji Hiragana or
Katakana		 Romaji Meaning
1. ご家族 ごかぞく go kazoku Someone's Family / Family Members
2. お爺さん おじいさん ojii san Grandfather / Old Man
3. お婆さん おばあさん obaa san Grandmother / Old Woman
4. 伯父さん おじさん oji san Uncle (Older than Parent)
5. 叔父さん おじさん oji san Uncle (Younger than Parent)
6. 伯母さん おばさん oba san Aunt (Older than Parent)
7. 叔母さん おばさん oba san Aunt (Younger than Parent)
8. ご両親 ごりょうしん go ryoushin Parents
9. お父さん おとうさん otou san Father
10. お母さん おかあさん okaa san Mother
11. ご兄弟 ごきょうだい go kyoudai Siblings
12. お兄さん おにいさん onii san Older Brother
13. お姉さん おねえさん onee san Older Sister
14. 弟さん おとうとさん otouto san Younger Brother
15. 妹さん いもうとさん imouto san Younger Sister
16. ご夫婦 ごふうふ go fuufu Married Couple / Husband and Wife
17. ご主人 ごしゅじん go shujin Husband
18. 奥さん おくさん okusan Wife
19. お子さん おこさん oko san Children
20. 息子さん むすこさん musuko san Son
21. お嬢さん おじょうさん ojou san Daughter
22. お孫さん おまごさん omago san Grandchild

And if you are interested to find out more vocabulary on Japanese family and how to read them in a correct manner, make sure to check out this page on the must-know terms for family members.

By the way, this link above is an affiliate link, which means that I would earn a commission if you do end up purchasing the related learning course. It's at no extra cost to you, and please if you have any questions related to this learning course, please let me know and I would be happy to answer them for you.

 

 

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