Japanese Family Words — How to Talk About Family in Japanese
Learn Japanese family vocabulary for JLPT N5. Two sets of words: humble (own family) and honorific (others' family) with pronunciation.
Japanese family vocabulary is unique because there are two forms for each family member: a humble form for your own family and an honorific form for someone else's family. When speaking about your mother to others, use はは (haha). When asking about someone else's mother, use おかあさん (okaasan). This distinction is a core part of Japanese politeness.
Key Vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| おかあさん | okaasan | mother (someone else's) |
| はは | haha | mother (own) |
| おとうさん | otousan | father (someone else's) |
| ちち | chichi | father (own) |
| おにいさん | oniisan | older brother (someone else's) |
| あに | ani | older brother (own) |
| おねえさん | oneesan | older sister (someone else's) |
| あね | ane | older sister (own) |
Example Sentences
- ちち は かいしゃいん ですchichi wa kaishain desuMy father is a company employee
- おかあさん は おげんき ですかokaasan wa ogenki desu kaIs your mother well?
- あに が いますani ga imasuI have an older brother
- かぞく は ごにん ですkazoku wa gonin desuMy family has 5 people
Study Tips
- 1Japanese has TWO sets of family words: humble (own) and honorific (others')
- 2Use humble forms when talking about YOUR family to others
- 3Use honorific forms when asking about SOMEONE ELSE's family
- 4かぞく (kazoku) is the general word for 'family'
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