family members

Family Members in Japanese

When talking about family members, there are two different ways of addressing them. One of them is when talking about your own family members to other people, and the other one is when mentioning someone else’s family members. Changing the words like this shows respect towards other’s family members while familiarising yourself with your own. Japanese pay respect (尊敬 – そんけい sonkei) to other people when mentioning someone’s 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.

Talking about your familyTalking about another’s family
fatherchichi
otousan
お父さん
motherhaha
okaasan
お母さん
older brotherani
oniisan
お兄さん
older sisterane
oneesan
お姉さん
younger brotherotouto
otoutosan
弟さん
younger sisterimouto
imoutosan
妹さん
grandfathersofu
祖父
ojiisan
おじいさん
grandmothersobo
祖母
obaasan
おばあさん
uncleoji
叔父/伯父
ojisan
おじさん
auntoba
叔母/伯母
obasan
おばさん
husbandotto
goshujin
ご主人
wifetsuma
okusan
奥さん
sonmusuko
息子
musukosan
息子さん
daughtermusume
ojousan
お嬢さん

Basic Family Members in Japanese

The following video will run through the pronunciation and simple spelling of a small family unit including a mother, father and older/younger brothers and sisters.

Category: ResourcesVideosWriting

Tags: familykazoku

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Duncan Sensei

Article by: Duncan Sensei

Steven Duncan Sensei is the DuncanSensei from DuncanSensei.com! having lived in japan for over 2 years he's gained a love for the country and it shows in his teaching and photographic work.