Japanese Family Words: Complete Vocabulary Guide (2026)
Master Japanese family vocabulary from uchi/soto to honorifics! Learn 50+ words for parents, siblings, relatives with anime examples and charts.
Ever watched anime and wondered why characters call their brother "onii-chan" sometimes and "ani" other times? Japanese family vocabulary is more than just memorizing words – it's understanding one of the most fascinating aspects of Japanese culture: the distinction between your family and someone else's.
This guide will help you master every family-related Japanese word you'll ever need! 👨👩👧👦
Why Japanese Family Words Are Different
In English, we simply say "mother" whether talking about our own mom or someone else's. Japanese isn't that simple! There are two systems:
The Uchi/Soto Concept (内/外)
Japanese culture distinguishes between:
- 内 (uchi) – "inside" = your own family (humble terms)
- 外 (soto) – "outside" = other people's families (respectful terms)
| Concept | When Speaking About | Word Type | Politeness Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 内 (uchi) | Your own family | Humble | Lower yourself |
| 外 (soto) | Others' families | Respectful | Elevate them |
Immediate Family Members 👨👩👧👦
Parents
| Relationship | Your Family | Others' Family | Casual/Affectionate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mother | 母 (はは / haha) | お母さん (おかあさん / okaasan) | ママ (mama) |
| Father | 父 (ちち / chichi) | お父さん (おとうさん / otousan) | パパ (papa) |
| Parents | 両親 (りょうしん / ryoushin) | ご両親 (ごりょうしん / goryoushin) | – |
Usage examples:
私の母は教師です。 Watashi no haha wa kyoushi desu. My mother is a teacher.
お母さんはお元気ですか？ Okaasan wa ogenki desu ka? Is your mother well?
Siblings
| Relationship | Your Family | Others' Family | Casual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Older brother | 兄 (あに / ani) | お兄さん (おにいさん / oniisan) | 兄ちゃん (niichan) |
| Younger brother | 弟 (おとうと / otouto) | 弟さん (おとうとさん / otoutosan) | – |
| Older sister | 姉 (あね / ane) | お姉さん (おねえさん / oneesan) | 姉ちゃん (neechan) |
| Younger sister | 妹 (いもうと / imouto) | 妹さん (いもうとさん / imoutosan) | – |
| Siblings | 兄弟 (きょうだい / kyoudai) | ご兄弟 (ごきょうだい / gokyoudai) | – |
Why anime characters say "onii-chan":
When talking TO your older brother, you use お兄さん or お兄ちゃん – never just 兄! It's affectionate and respectful.
お兄ちゃん、一緒に遊ぼう！ Oniichan, issho ni asobou! Big brother, let's play together!
Spouse & Children
| Relationship | Your Family | Others' Family | Casual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Husband | 夫 (おっと / otto) | ご主人 (ごしゅじん / goshujin) | 旦那 (だんな / danna) |
| Wife | 妻 (つま / tsuma) | 奥さん (おくさん / okusan) | 嫁 (よめ / yome) |
| Son | 息子 (むすこ / musuko) | 息子さん (むすこさん / musukosan) | – |
| Daughter | 娘 (むすめ / musume) | 娘さん (むすめさん / musumesan) | – |
| Child/Children | 子供 (こども / kodomo) | お子さん (おこさん / okosan) | – |
Extended Family Members 👴👵
Grandparents
| Relationship | Your Family | Others' Family | Affectionate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grandfather | 祖父 (そふ / sofu) | おじいさん (ojiisan) | おじいちゃん (ojiichan) |
| Grandmother | 祖母 (そぼ / sobo) | おばあさん (obaasan) | おばあちゃん (obaachan) |
| Grandparents | 祖父母 (そふぼ / sofubo) | – | – |
Uncles & Aunts
| Relationship | Your Family | Others' Family |
|---|---|---|
| Uncle (older than parent) | 伯父 (おじ / oji) | 伯父さん (おじさん / ojisan) |
| Uncle (younger than parent) | 叔父 (おじ / oji) | 叔父さん (おじさん / ojisan) |
| Aunt (older than parent) | 伯母 (おば / oba) | 伯母さん (おばさん / obasan) |
| Aunt (younger than parent) | 叔母 (おば / oba) | 叔母さん (おばさん / obasan) |
Cousins, Nieces & Nephews
| Relationship | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Cousin | いとこ / 従兄弟 | itoko |
| Nephew | 甥 (おい) | oi |
| Niece | 姪 (めい) | mei |
In-Laws (義理の家族) 💒
Japanese indicates in-laws by adding 義理の (ぎりの / giri no) or by using specific terms:
| Relationship | Japanese | Reading | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Father-in-law | 義父 / 義理の父 | gifu / giri no chichi | Can also use お父さん to them |
| Mother-in-law | 義母 / 義理の母 | gibo / giri no haha | Can also use お母さん to them |
| Brother-in-law | 義兄 / 義弟 | gikei / gitei | Older / Younger |
| Sister-in-law | 義姉 / 義妹 | gishi / gimai | Older / Younger |
Common phrases:
義理の母と仲がいいです。 Giri no haha to naka ga ii desu. I get along well with my mother-in-law.
Talking About Your Family (Self-Introduction) 🎤
When introducing your family in Japanese, use humble forms:
Family Size
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 一人っ子 | ひとりっこ / hitorikko | Only child |
| 四人家族 | よにんかぞく / yonin kazoku | Family of four |
| 大家族 | だいかぞく / daikazoku | Large family |
| 核家族 | かくかぞく / kaku kazoku | Nuclear family |
Example Introduction
私は四人家族です。父と母と姉がいます。 Watashi wa yonin kazoku desu. Chichi to haha to ane ga imasu. I'm from a family of four. I have a father, mother, and older sister.
兄が二人います。弟はいません。 Ani ga futari imasu. Otouto wa imasen. I have two older brothers. I don't have younger brothers.
Family Words in Japanese Media 📺
Common Anime Patterns
| You'll Hear | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|
| お兄ちゃん！ | Big brother! | Speaking TO older brother |
| うちの兄が... | My brother... | Speaking ABOUT older brother |
| 母がそう言った | Mom said so | Neutral statement |
| お母さん、ただいま！ | Mom, I'm home! | Speaking TO mother |
Cute/Affectionate Variations
| Word | Meaning | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| 兄貴 (あにき / aniki) | Bro | Masculine, yakuza-ish |
| お兄たん (onichan) | Big bwo | Baby talk, ultra-cute |
| パパ / ママ | Papa / Mama | Childish, Western |
| お父様 / お母様 | Father / Mother | Very formal, royalty vibes |
Family Verbs & Expressions 💭
Common Phrases
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 実家に帰る | じっかにかえる | To go back to parents' house |
| 家族と過ごす | かぞくとすごす | To spend time with family |
| 兄弟げんか | きょうだいげんか | Sibling fight/rivalry |
| 親孝行 | おやこうこう | Filial piety (caring for parents) |
| 家族思い | かぞくおもい | Family-oriented person |
Asking About Family
ご家族は何人ですか？ Gokazoku wa nannin desu ka? How many people are in your family?
ご兄弟はいますか？ Gokyoudai wa imasu ka? Do you have siblings?
Quick Reference Chart 📊
| Relationship | About YOUR family | About OTHERS' family |
|---|---|---|
| Mother | 母 (haha) | お母さん (okaasan) |
| Father | 父 (chichi) | お父さん (otousan) |
| Older brother | 兄 (ani) | お兄さん (oniisan) |
| Older sister | 姉 (ane) | お姉さん (oneesan) |
| Younger brother | 弟 (otouto) | 弟さん (otoutosan) |
| Younger sister | 妹 (imouto) | 妹さん (imoutosan) |
| Husband | 夫 (otto) | ご主人 (goshujin) |
| Wife | 妻 (tsuma) | 奥さん (okusan) |
| Son | 息子 (musuko) | 息子さん (musukosan) |
| Daughter | 娘 (musume) | 娘さん (musumesan) |
| Grandfather | 祖父 (sofu) | おじいさん (ojiisan) |
| Grandmother | 祖母 (sobo) | おばあさん (obaasan) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there so many words for the same family member?
Japanese uses different words based on politeness level and perspective. When talking ABOUT your family to others, you humble yourself (使う humble forms). When talking ABOUT others' families, you show respect (using respectful forms).
Can I just use お母さん for everyone?
For speaking TO family members (your own or someone else's), お母さん, お父さん, etc. are always appropriate. Just remember to switch to 母, 父 when describing YOUR family to outsiders.
What if I'm an only child?
Simply say 一人っ子です (hitorikko desu) – "I'm an only child." It's common and there's no stigma attached!
Conclusion: Master Your Japanese Family Tree! 🌳
Japanese family vocabulary might seem complex at first, but once you understand the uchi/soto distinction, it all makes sense. These words appear everywhere – from anime to business introductions – so mastering them is essential.
Key takeaways: ✅ Use humble forms (母, 父, 兄) for YOUR family ✅ Use respectful forms (お母さん, お父さん, お兄さん) for OTHERS' family ✅ Speaking TO family? Use the respectful form + ちゃん if close ✅ Extended family follows the same pattern ✅ Learn common phrases for self-introductions
Your next step: To read these family words in context, you need to know kana! Master hiragana with KanaDojo → and unlock thousands of Japanese words.
家族を大切に！(Kazoku wo taisetsu ni!) Cherish your family! 👨👩👧👦
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