Family members

In Japanese, we use different words, whether we talk about your family or someone else's family.

Your family

WordMeaning
そふgrandfather
そふばgrandparents
ははmother
りょうしんparents
おとうとyounger brother
あにolder brother
あねolder sister
つまwife
おっとhusband
ふうふwife and husband, household
むすこson
むすめdaughter
そばgrandmother
ちちfather
いもうとyounger sister
きょうだいbrothers and sisters

Someone else's family

When talking about someone else's family, most words start with "お" and end with "さん" to show greater respect.

WordMeaning
grandmother
grandfather
ごりょうしんparents
おにさんolder brother
おねえさんolder sister
ごきょうだいbrothers and sisters
おくさんwife
ごしゅじんhusband
むすめさんdaughter
むすこさんson
おこさんchildren
おとうとさんyounger brother
おかあさんmother
ごふうふwife and husband, household
おとおさんfather


Related kanji

18 kanji