Japanese Family Members
Master Family Vocabulary with Honorific Distinctions
Table of Contents
1. Overview & Honorific System
Japanese family vocabulary has TWO forms: humble (for your own family) and respectful (for others’ families)
This reflects the deep cultural value of showing respect to others while being modest about yourself
The Honor System (敬語 – Keigo)
Your Family (謙譲語): Use humble forms when talking about your own family members
Others’ Family (尊敬語): Use respectful forms when talking about other people’s family members
Social Hierarchy: Family terms reflect age, generation, and social relationships
Cultural Values: Emphasizes respect, humility, and proper social distance
2. Nuclear Family (核家族)
Parents
My Parents
Others’ Parents
Father
My Father
Others’ Father
Mother
My Mother
Others’ Mother
Older Brother
My Older Brother
Others’ Older Brother
Older Sister
My Older Sister
Others’ Older Sister
Younger Brother
My Younger Brother
Others’ Younger Brother
Younger Sister
My Younger Sister
Others’ Younger Sister
Child
My Child
Others’ Child
3. Extended Family (拡大家族)
Grandparents Generation
| Relationship | My Family (Humble) | Others’ Family (Respectful) | Kanji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grandfather | そふ (sofu) | おじいさん (ojiisan) | 祖父 |
| Grandmother | そぼ (sobo) | おばあさん (obaasan) | 祖母 |
| Grandparents | そふぼ (sofubo) | おじいさん・おばあさん | 祖父母 |
Aunts and Uncles
| Relationship | My Family (Humble) | Others’ Family (Respectful) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncle (older than parent) | おじ (oji) | おじさん (ojisan) | Father’s older brother |
| Uncle (younger than parent) | おじ (oji) | おじさん (ojisan) | Father’s younger brother |
| Aunt (older than parent) | おば (oba) | おばさん (obasan) | Mother’s older sister |
| Aunt (younger than parent) | おば (oba) | おばさん (obasan) | Mother’s younger sister |
Cousins
Male Cousin: いとこ (itoko) – same for both my family and others’
Female Cousin: いとこ (itoko) – same for both my family and others’
Note: Cousin terms don’t change with honorifics, but you may add さん for others’ cousins in formal situations
4. Honorific Usage Rules
When to Use Humble Forms
Talking about your own family to others:
わたしの ちちは かいしゃいんです。
My father is a company employee.
Introducing your family:
こちらは はは です。
This is my mother.
When to Use Respectful Forms
Asking about someone’s family:
おとうさんは おげんきですか？
How is your father?
Talking about someone else’s family:
たなかさんの おかあさんは やさしいです。
Tanaka-san’s mother is kind.
• Never say おとうさん about your own father to others
• Never say ちち about someone else’s father
• Don’t mix humble and respectful forms in the same context
5. Age Order & Hierarchy
Sibling Order Importance
Age-based hierarchy: Japanese culture emphasizes the importance of birth order
Different terms: Older vs younger siblings have completely different words
Respect patterns: Younger siblings traditionally show respect to older ones
Social implications: Birth order affects family roles and responsibilities
Direct Address vs Description
| Relationship | When Describing | When Addressing Directly | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your older brother | あに (ani) | おにいさん (oniisan) | Call him oniisan directly |
| Your older sister | あね (ane) | おねえさん (oneesan) | Call her oneesan directly |
| Your parents | ちち・はは | おとうさん・おかあさん | Call them the respectful forms |
6. In-Laws & Marriage Terms
Spouse Terms
| Relationship | My Family (Humble) | Others’ Family (Respectful) | Kanji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Husband | しゅじん (shujin) | ごしゅじん (goshujin) | 主人 |
| Wife | かない (kanai) | おくさん (okusan) | 家内 |
In-Law Terms
Father-in-law
Mother-in-law
7. Cultural Context
Traditional Family Structure
Ie System (家制度): Traditional Japanese family structure emphasizing hierarchy and roles
Generational Respect: Younger generations show respect to older ones
Family Honor: Individual behavior reflects on the entire family
Collectivism: Family needs often come before individual desires
Modern Changes
Nuclear families: More families living independently from grandparents
Gender roles: Gradual changes in traditional male/female family roles
Language evolution: Some younger people use less formal family terms
Work-life balance: Modern challenges affecting family time and relationships
8. Family Conversations
Asking About Family
General family questions:
ごかぞくは なんにんですか？
How many people are in your family?
おにいさんは いますか？
Do you have an older brother?
ごりょうしんは おげんきですか？
Are your parents doing well?
Talking About Your Own Family
Family introductions:
かぞくは よにんです。
My family has four people.
あには だいがくせいです。
My older brother is a university student.
いもうとは こうこうせいです。
My younger sister is a high school student.
9. Practice & Examples
Common Conversation Scenarios
Meeting someone new:
A: ごかぞくは？
About your family?
B: ちちと はは と あに が います。
I have a father, mother, and older brother.
A: おにいさんは なにを していますか？
What does your older brother do?
B: だいがくで べんきょうしています。
He’s studying at university.
Family Relationship Examples
| Situation | Japanese | English | Key Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introducing your mother | はは を しょうかいします | I’ll introduce my mother | Use humble form |
| Asking about someone’s father | おとうさんは いかがですか？ | How is your father? | Use respectful form |
| Talking about siblings | きょうだいは さんにんです | I have three siblings | General sibling term |
Memory Techniques
Pattern Recognition:
• Your family = short, simple words (ちち、はは、あに、あね)
• Others’ family = longer words with お～さん (おとうさん、おかあさん、おにいさん)
Age Distinction:
• Older siblings: あに/あね (humble) vs おにいさん/おねえさん (respectful)
• Younger siblings: おとうと/いもうと (add さん for others’)
Cultural Logic:
• Be humble about your own family
• Be respectful about others’ families
10. Quick Reference Guide
Essential Family Terms
| English | My Family | Others’ Family | Direct Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Father | ちち | おとうさん | おとうさん |
| Mother | はは | おかあさん | おかあさん |
| Older brother | あに | おにいさん | おにいさん |
| Older sister | あね | おねえさん | おねえさん |
| Younger brother | おとうと | おとうとさん | Name |
| Younger sister | いもうと | いもうとさん | Name |
Key Grammar Patterns
Family existence: [Family member] が います
Example: あにが います。(I have an older brother.)
Family description: [My family member] は [description] です
Example: ちちは いしゃです。(My father is a doctor.)
Asking about family: [Respectful family member] は いますか？
Example: おねえさんは いますか？(Do you have an older sister?)
Cultural Reminders
Honorific Consistency: Always match your language level to the relationship
Context Awareness: Formal vs casual situations may affect word choice
Age Sensitivity: Birth order and age hierarchy are important in Japanese culture
Respect Balance: Show appropriate respect while maintaining humility about your own family
Common Phrases
Family size: かぞくは [number]にんです。
Siblings: きょうだいは [number]にんです。
Only child: ひとりっこです。
Large family: だいかぞくです。
Nuclear family: かくかぞくです。
Family Harmony Achieved!
You’ve mastered the complex but essential system of Japanese family vocabulary. Now you can navigate family conversations with proper respect and cultural sensitivity!
Family Members Quiz
Test Your Knowledge of Japanese Family Vocabulary & Honorifics
Exercise 1: Basic Honorific Distinction
How do you say “my father” when talking to others?
Explanation: Use humble forms (ちち) when talking about your own family to others. おとうさん is for others’ fathers.
Exercise 2: Respectful Forms
How do you ask “Do you have an older brother?”
Explanation: Use respectful forms (おにいさん) when asking about others’ family members.
Exercise 3: Mother Recognition
What does 母 mean?
Explanation: 母 (はは) is the humble form used when talking about your own mother to others.
Exercise 4: Sibling Age Distinction
What is the difference between あに and おとうと?
Explanation: Japanese makes a clear distinction between older (あに) and younger (おとうと) brothers.
Exercise 5: Direct Address
How would you directly address your older sister?
Explanation: When directly addressing family members, use respectful forms even for your own family.
Exercise 6: Extended Family
How do you say “my grandfather” (humble form)?
Explanation: そふ (祖父) is the humble form for “my grandfather” when talking to others.
Exercise 7: Younger Siblings
How do you refer to someone else’s younger sister respectfully?
Explanation: Add さん to younger siblings’ terms when referring to others’ family members.
Exercise 8: Marriage Terms
How do you say “my husband” in humble form?
Explanation: しゅじん (主人) is the humble form for “my husband.” ごしゅじん is for others’ husbands.
Exercise 9: Family Size
How do you say “My family has four people”?
Explanation: Use かぞく (not ごかぞく) when talking about your own family.
Exercise 10: Children
What is the respectful way to refer to someone else’s child?
Explanation: おこさん (お子さん) is the respectful form for others’ children.
Exercise 11: Cultural Context
Why does Japanese have different terms for your own vs others’ family?
Explanation: This reflects Japanese cultural values of modesty and respect in social interactions.
Exercise 12: Practical Usage
Complete this sentence: “My older brother is a university student.”
Explanation: Use あに (humble form) when describing your own older brother to others.
How did you do?
Check your answers by selecting options above. Each correct answer will show in purple!
