Essential Japanese Family Vocabulary You Should Know

As part of learning basic Japanese, family related vocab is very useful to know!

In Japanese, the terms for different family members can be a bit complex. This is just another example of the hierarchy system and politeness culture in Japan.

Whether you are speaking about an older or younger sibling, or whether you are referring to your own or someone else’s family member, there are different words for each scenario!

Words related to immediate family 

English	Kanji	Hiragana	Romaji
Family	家族	かぞく	kazoku
Mom	お母さん	おかあさあん	okaasan
Dad	お父さん	おとうさん	otousan
Older Brother	お兄さん	おにいさん	oniisan
Younger brother	弟	おとうと	otouto
Older sister	お姉さん	おねえさん	oneesan
Younger sister	妹	いもうと	imouto
Child	子供	こども	kodomo
Son	息子	むすこ	musuko
Daughter	娘	むすめ	musume
Grandmother	お婆さん	おばあさん	obaasan
Grandfather	お爺さん	おじいさん	ojiisan
Parents	両親	りょうしん	ryoushin
Siblings	兄弟	きょうだい	kyoudai
Grandparents	祖父母	そふぼ	sofubo
Grandchild	孫	まご	mago

Words related to extended family

English	Kanji	Hiragana	Romaji
Relatives	親戚	しんせき	shinseki
Cousin	従兄弟	いとこ	itoko
Aunt	叔母	おば	oba
Uncle	叔父	おじ	oji
Niece	姪	めい	mei
Nephew	甥	おい	oi
Great grandmother	曽祖母	そうそぼ	sousobo
Great grandfather	曽祖父	そうそふ	sousofu
Great grandchild	曽孫	ひまご	himago
Stepchild	継子 / 連れ子	ままこ / つれこ	mamako / tsureko

Stepfamily / In-laws

In Japanese, the way in which one refers to ‘family in law’ and ‘stepfamily’ is the same. Therefore, some context is needed to decipher which of the two is being talked about. 

Giri (義理 / ぎり) is an adjective which means ‘duty’, though in this situation is translated as ‘in-law’ or ‘related by marriage’.

Giri no kazoku (義理の家族 / ぎりのかぞく) would be your ‘family-in-law’. ‘Mother-in-law’ is giri no haha (義理の母 / ぎりのはは), ‘father-in-law’ is giri no chichi (義理の父ぎりのちち) and so on and so forth!

Side note, you may hear the term mama haha (まま母 / ままはは) being used in stories to mean ‘mother-in-law’. This word has a sort of negative connotation, as denoted by its use in reference to Cinderella’s evil stepmother! 

How to refer to family members

At the beginning of the list, we have the standard words for ‘mother’, ‘father’ etc, however within different family dynamics, you will find that there are various other ways to address these family members! 

The same is true in English. It is not very common to call your own mother, ‘mother’, as it sounds very formal, and a bit cold. Instead, you may opt for ‘mom’, ‘mum’ or ‘mammy’ etc. The same is true in Japanese!

Mother

Okaasan (お母さん / おかあさん) is the standard, polite term for ‘mother’, whether in reference to your own mother or someone else’s! 

Haha (母 / はは) is a kenjougo term. Kenjougo is Japanese humble speech, and is used to show respect by showing your modesty and in turn holding the other person to a higher degree.

Mama (ママ / まま) is kind of cute pet name for your ‘mother’. It is usually what small children use to refer to their mother as it is easy to say. However, all ages can use this term of endearment for their mothers!

➡️ Learn more: How to Say Mother in Japanese

Father

Otousan (お父さん / おとうさん), like okaasan, is the standard, polite term to refer to your own or someone else’s ‘father’.

Chichi (父 / ちち) is the kenjougo term for ‘father’. Although humble language gives a feeling of formality, it comes across as a respectful, yet natural title for your dad.

Papa (パパ / ぱぱ) is the cutesy way to refer to your dad. Like mama it is generally used by children due to its simplicity, but don’t be surprised if you see older children calling their father papa, how adorable!

➡️ Learn more: How to Say Father in Japanese

Grandmother

Obaasan (お婆さん / おばあさん, sometimes お祖母さん) is the standard polite word for ‘grandmother’, but can also be used to describe any old woman.

Obaachan (おばあちゃん) is a cuter, more casual way to refer to your own grandmother. 

Baabaa (ばあばあ) is the so-called babyish way to say ‘grandmother’, like ‘nana’ or ‘gram gram’ in English!

Grandfather

Ojiisan (お爺さん / おじいさん, sometimes お祖父さん) is the standard polite term for ‘grandfather’, and similarly can be used to refer to an old man in general.

Ojiichan (おじいちゃん) is the more casual way to say ‘grandfather’. It is generally reserved as a term of endearment for your own grandparent.

Jiiji (じいじい) is of course a common way for young grandchildren to call their grandfather. 

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Hannah Stafford

Hannah is a half Irish/half Japanese girl living in Ireland. Her love for Japan and the Japanese language led her to studying languages and translation in university where she specialised in Japanese. She spent a year studying abroad at Rikkyo University in Tokyo. In her free time, Hannah enjoys using her sewing machine to upcycle clothes and create new pieces!