Japanese Family Vocabulary – Essential Words & Usage

You’re wondering how to say Mother, Father in Japanese and other family members? This guide covers basic family member terms, how to refer to others' families politely, flashcards for easy learning, and common questions about family in Japanese.

Family Member Vocabulary

Japanese has different words for family members depending on whether you’re referring to your own family or someone else’s family. 

Basic Family Terms in Japanese

There are several ways say the word "family" in Japanese:

 家族 -   Kazoku  -  Common way to say "family," referring to one's own family.
ご家族  -  Gokazoku  -  A polite way to refer to someone else’s family.
親族   - Shinzoku -   Extended family or relatives.
一家  -  Ikka -   "Household" or "entire family," often used formally.
ファミリー    Famirī  -  "Family" in katakana, borrowed from English, used casually.

Relative Vocabulary ( Extended family)

Uncle   -  おじさん (Ojisan)
Aunt    おばさん (Obasan)
Cousin    いとこ (Itoko)
Nephew    甥 (Oi)
Niece    姪 (Mei)
Parents    両親 (Ryōshin)
Relatives    親戚 (Shinseki)

Questions to Ask About Family in Japanese

Want to have a conversation about family in Japanese? Here are some common questions and answers:

1. 家族は何人ですか？ (Kazoku wa nannin desu ka?)
How many people are in your family?

Answer:
私の家族は5人です。 (Watashi no kazoku wa gonin desu.)
There are five people in my family.

2. ご兄弟はいますか？ (Gokyōdai wa imasu ka?)
Do you have any siblings?

Answer:
はい、兄がいます。 (Hai, ani ga imasu.)
Yes, I have an older brother.

3. お父さんはどんな仕事をしていますか？ (Otōsan wa donna shigoto o shiteimasu ka?)
What does your father do?

Answer:
父は医者です。 (Chichi wa isha desu.)
My father is a doctor.

4. ご両親はどちらに住んでいますか？ (Goryōshin wa dochira ni sundeimasu ka?)
Where do your parents live?

Note: When asking about someone else's family, always use honorifics like ご (go) and お (o).

Learn more basic Japanese conversation to master this language.