Family Vocab In Japanese: Terms For People In Your Family

Learning how to describe your family members in Japanese takes time.

It’s not quite as straightforward as it is in English.

Thankfully, I’ve put together a detailed reference for you right here with audio so you can refer to it as needed.

You might also like to follow this up with my guide on Japanese honorifics.

Japanese family vocabulary chart

In this table, you’ll find all the most important vocabulary for describing family members.

Below are a number of Japanese vocabulary words associated with the family.

All words are nouns unless otherwise specified.

Both Hiragana and Kanji as well as audio are provided for reference.

Kanji	Hiragana	Romaji	English Meaning	Listen
家族	かぞく	kazoku	family
親	おや	oya	parent(s)
両親	りょうしん	ryoushin	parents
夫婦	ふうふ	fuufu	couple
夫	おっと	otto	husband (your own)
主人	しゅじん	shujin	husband (your own)
ご主人	ごしゅじん	goshujin	husband (someone else’s)
妻	つま	tsuma	wife (your own)
家内	かない	kanai	wife (your own)
奥さん	おくさん	okusan	wife (someone else’s)
子	こ	ko	child
子供	こども	kodomo	children
赤ちゃん	あかちゃん	akachan	baby
息子	むすこ	musuko	son (your own)
息子さん	むすこさん	musukosan	son (someone else’s)
娘	むすめ	musume	daughter (your own)
娘さん	むすめさん	musumesan	daughter (someone else’s)
父	ちち	chichi	father (your own)
お父さん	おとうさん	otousan	father (someone else’s)
母	はは	haha	mother (your own)
お母さん	おかあさん	okaasan	mother (someone else’s)
兄	あに	ani	older brother (your own)
お兄さん	おにいさん	oniisan	older brother (someone else’s)
弟	おとうと	otouto	younger brother (your own)
弟さん	おとうとさん	otoutosan	younger brother (someone else’s)
兄弟	きょうだい	kyoudai	brother(s), sibling(s)
姉	あね	ane	older sister (your own)
お姉さん	おねえさん	oneesan	older sister (someone else’s)
妹	いもうと	imouto	younger sister (your own)
妹さん	いもうとさん	imoutosan	younger sister (someone else’s)
姉妹	しまい	shimai	sister(s)
祖父母	そふぼ	sofubo	grandparents
祖父	そふ	sofu	grandfather
祖母	そぼ	sobo	grandmother
お祖父さん	おじいさん	ojiisan	grandpa
お祖母さん	おばあさん	obaasan	grandma
おじさん	おじさん	ojisan	uncle
おばさん	おばさん	obasan	aunt
甥	おい	oi	nephew
姪	めい	mei	niece
いとこ	いとこ	itoko	cousin
はとこ	はとこ	hatoko	second cousin
孫	まご	mago	grandchild
曽お祖父さん	ひおじいさん	hiojiisan	great-grandfather (add an extra ‘hi’ for great-great, etc.)
曽お祖母さん	ひおばあさん	hiobaasan	great-grandmother (add an extra ‘hi’ for great-great, etc.)
先祖	せんぞ	senzo	ancestors
親戚	しんせき	shinseki	relatives

Example sentences describing your family in Japanese

Here are some example sentences using terms from the table above:

Hiragana: きょうだいはさんにんであにひとりといもうとふたり(です)。

Kanji: 兄弟は三人で兄一人と妹二人(です)。

Kyoudai wa sannin de ani hitori to imouto futari (desu).

I have three siblings. One older brother and two younger sisters.

Hiragana: ぼくはハーフだ(です)。ちちはアメリカじんではははにほんじんだ(です)。

Kanji: 僕はハーフだ(です)。父はアメリカ人で母は日本人だ(です)。

Boku wa ha-fu da (desu). Chichi wa amerikajin de haha wa nihonjin da (desu).

I am a 'half' (half Japanese, in this case). My dad is an American and my mom is Japanese.

Hiragana: なつやすみはそふぼのいえにほうもんする(します)。

Kanji: 夏休みは祖父母の家に訪問する(します)。

Natsuyasumi wa sofubo no ie ni houmon suru (shimasu).

We visit our grandparents during summer vacation.

Additonal useful vocabulary

Here are some additional terms (including terms used in the sample sentences above):

Kanji	Hiragana	Romaji	ENGLISH	Listen
一人	ひとり	hitori	one person
二人	ふたり	futari	two people
三人	さんにん	sannin	three people
	ハーフ	ha-fu	a ‘half’, typically a person that is half Japanese
アメリカ人	アメリカじん	amerikajin	American person
日本人	にほんじん	nihonjin	Japanese person
夏休み	なつやすみ	natsuyasumi	summer vacation
訪問する	ほうもんする	houmon suru	to visit

Describe your family in Japanese

I hope this simple reference guide has proven useful.

As you can see, Japanese family terminology can be a little more complex than English.

Memorizing these terms requires practice.

To take it further, there’s a great lesson that covers the topic of family in more detail in the Rocket Japanese course too.

Did I miss any family members?

Comment below.

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