Family Terms

Family Terms in Japanese are divided into two major groups: (i)In-group Family Terms and (ii) Out-group Family Terms.

In-group Family Terms

In-group family terms are used to refer to your own family members.

• 祖父(そふ)(grandfather)、祖母(そぼ)(grandmother)

• 父(ちち)(father)、母(はは)(mother)、両親(りょうしん)(parents)

• 兄(あに)(older brother)、弟(おとうと)(younger brother)、姉(あね) (older sister)、妹(いもうと)(younger sister)、兄弟(きょうだい)(sibilings)

• 息子(むすこ)(son)、娘 (むすめ)(daughter)

• いとこ(cousin)、甥(おい)(nephew)、姪(めい)(niece)

Out-group family terms are used to refer to someone else's family members.

• お爺さん(おじいさん) (grandfather)、お婆さん(おばあさん)(grandmother)

• お父さん(おとうさん)(father)、お母さん(おかあさん)(mother)、 ご両親(りょうしん)(parents)

• お兄さん(おにいさん)(older brother)、弟さん(おとうとさん) (younger brother)、お姉さん(おねえさん)(older sister)、 妹さん(いもうとさん)(younger sister)、ご兄弟(ごきょうだい)(sibilings)

• 息子さん(むすこさん)(son)、お嬢さん(おじょうさん)(daughter)

• いとこ、甥ごさん(おいごさん)(nephew)、姪ごさん(めいごさん)(niece)