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