2025-08-21
5.0
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Japanese Family Vocabulary: Essential Words for Parents
Specialized Vocabulary2025-08-21•5.0531
2025-08-215.0531
Table of Contents
1. My Own Japanese Family Members
2. Someone’s Japanese Family Members
3. Basic Family Words
4. Family-Related Expressions
Japanese family vocabulary is more than just words, it reflects Japan’s cultural values of respect and humility. In this guide from Mazii, you’ll find a complete list of terms for describing your own family and someone else’s, along with common expressions to help you sound natural in any situation.
Essential Japanese family vocabulary for parents
My Own Japanese Family Members
Kana |
Romaji |
Kanji |
Meaning |
かぞく |
kazoku |
家族 |
Family / Family Members |
そふ |
sofu |
祖父 |
Grandfather |
そぼ |
sobo |
祖母 |
Grandmother |
おじ |
oji |
伯父 |
Uncle (Older than Parent) |
おじ |
oji |
叔父 |
Uncle (Younger than Parent) |
おば |
oba |
伯母 |
Aunt (Older than Parent) |
おば |
oba |
叔母 |
Aunt (Younger than Parent) |
りょうしん |
ryoushin |
両親 |
Parents |
ちち |
chichi |
父 |
Father |
はは |
haha |
母 |
Mother |
きょうだい |
kyoudai |
兄弟 |
Siblings / Brothers |
しまい |
shimai |
姉妹 |
Sisters |
あに |
ani |
兄 |
Older Brother |
あね |
ane |
姉 |
Older Sister |
おとうと |
otouto |
弟 |
Younger Brother |
いもうと |
imouto |
妹 |
Younger Sister |
ふうふ |
fuufu |
夫婦 |
Married Couple / Husband and Wife |
しゅじん |
shujin |
主人 |
Husband |
おっと |
otto |
夫 |
Husband |
かない |
kanai |
家内 |
Wife |
つま |
tsuma |
妻 |
Wife |
いとこ |
itoko |
従兄弟 |
Cousin (Male) |
いとこ |
itoko |
従姉妹 |
Cousin (Female) |
こども |
kodomo |
子供 |
Children |
むすこ |
musuko |
息子 |
Son |
むすめ |
musume |
娘 |
Daughter |
おい |
oi |
甥 |
Nephew |
めい |
mei |
姪 |
Niece |
まご |
mago |
孫 |
Grandchild |
ぎりのあに |
giri no ani |
義理の兄 |
Brother-in-law (older than you) |
ぎりのおとうと |
giri no otouto |
義理の弟 |
Brother-in-law (younger than you) |
ぎりのむすこ |
giri no musuko |
義理の息子 |
Son-in-law |
ぎりの～ |
giri no ~ |
義理の～ |
~-in-law |
Someone’s Japanese Family Members
Kana |
Romaji |
Kanji |
Meaning |
ごかぞく |
gokazoku |
ご家族 |
Someone’s Family / Family Members |
おじいさん |
ojiisan |
お爺さん |
Grandfather / Old Man |
おばあさん |
obaasan |
お婆さん |
Grandmother / Old Woman |
おじさん |
ojisan |
伯父さん |
Uncle (Older than Parent) |
おじさん |
ojisan |
叔父さん |
Uncle (Younger than Parent) |
おばさん |
obasan |
伯母さん |
Aunt (Older than Parent) |
おばさん |
obasan |
叔母さん |
Aunt (Younger than Parent) |
ごりょうしん |
goryoushin |
ご両親 |
Parents |
おとうさん |
otousan |
お父さん |
Father |
おかあさん |
okaasan |
お母さん |
Mother |
ごきょうだい |
gokyoudai |
ご兄弟 |
Siblings |
おにいさん |
oniisan |
お兄さん |
Older Brother |
おねえさん |
oneesan |
お姉さん |
Older Sister |
おとうとさん |
otoutosan |
弟さん |
Younger Brother |
いもうとさん |
imoutosan |
妹さん |
Younger Sister |
ごふうふ |
gofuufu |
ご夫婦 |
Married Couple / Husband and Wife |
ごしゅじん |
goshujin |
ご主人 |
Husband |
おくさん |
okusan |
奥さん |
Wife |
おこさん |
okosan |
お子さん |
Children |
むすこさん |
musukosan |
息子さん |
Son |
おじょうさん |
ojousan |
お嬢さん |
Daughter |
おまごさん |
omagosan |
お孫さん |
Grandchild |
Basic Family Words
English Word |
Talking About Your Family |
Talking About Another’s Family |
Father |
chichi (父) |
otousan (お父さん) |
Mother |
haha (母) |
okaasan (お母さん) |
Older Brother |
ani (兄) |
oniisan (お兄さん) |
Older Sister |
ane (姉) |
oneesan (お姉さん) |
Younger Brother |
otouto (弟) |
otoutosan (弟さん) |
Younger Sister |
imouto (妹) |
imoutosan (妹さん) |
Grandfather |
sofu (祖父) |
ojiisan (おじいさん) |
Grandmother |
sobo (祖母) |
obaasan (おばあさん) |
Uncle |
oji (伯父/叔父) |
ojisan (おじさん) |
Aunt |
oba (伯母/叔母) |
obasan (おばさん) |
Husband |
otto (夫) |
goshujin (ご主人) |
Wife |
tsuma (妻) |
okusan (奥さん) |
Son |
musuko (息子) |
musukosan (息子さん) |
Daughter |
musume (娘) |
ojousan (お嬢さん) |
Family-Related Expressions
Japanese |
Romaji |
English Translation |
結婚していますか。 |
Kekkon shiteimasu ka. |
Are you married? |
結婚しています。 |
Kekkon shiteimasu. |
I am married. |
独身です。 |
Dokushin desu. |
I am single. |
兄弟がいますか。 |
Kyoudai ga imasu ka. |
Do you have brothers and sisters? |
子供がいますか。 |
Kodomo ga imasu ka. |
Do you have children? |
Mastering Japanese family vocabulary helps you both linguistically and culturally. Understanding the difference between talking about your own family and someone else’s family is essential for polite communication in Japanese.
By practicing these family Japanese vocabulary daily and using them in real-life conversations, you’ll become more confident and natural in your Japanese learning journey.
=> Visit the Mizii website or download the Mizii app from the App Store or Google Play today and start learning Japanese family vocabulary!
>> Read more:
- 5 Best Japanese Vocab Apps for All Learners 2025
- Japanese Food Vocabulary List: 300+ Must-Know Words
- 200+ Japanese Body Parts Vocabulary You Need to Know
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