Names for Family Members in Japanese: Full Beginner’s Guide with Examples
When learning Japanese, one of the first things you’ll want to say is something like “This is my mom” or “Where’s your brother?” But Japanese has some interesting rules when it comes to family terms and how you refer to your family is totally different from how you talk about someone else’s.
If that sounds confusing, don’t worry. We’ll walk you through everything with chill, easy-to-follow examples, plus show you how to learn faster using a game-based language app called Langlandia. Let’s get started!
What Are the Japanese Names for Family Members and How Do They Work?
Japanese has specific terms for every family member like otōsan for father and okāsan for mother but there’s a twist. You’ll say one word when you’re talking about your own family, and a different word when you’re talking about someone else’s family.
Examples:
- Your dad: chichi (父)
- Someone else’s dad: otōsan (お父さん)
This polite shift is super important in Japanese culture because it shows respect. You’re expected to talk humbly about your own family but respectfully about others’.
In Japanese unlike in English family terms change depending on who you’re talking about. If you’re speaking about your own family, you’ll use more humble language. But when referring to someone else’s family, it’s polite to use respectful terms, often with honorifics like お (o-) or ご (go-).
To make things easier, the table below is organized into three columns:
- The first column shows the family member in English.
- The second column lists how you refer to your own family (with kanji included below the romanized Japanese).
- The third column shows how to refer to someone else’s family, using the more respectful version (also with kanji included).
This difference is important not just in formal situations, but also in everyday Japanese conversation. Using the right word shows respect and understanding of Japanese culture.
🏡 Japanese Family Vocabulary: Humble vs. Polite
| English | Talking About Your Family (Humble) | Talking About Another’s Family (Polite) |
|---|---|---|
| Father | chichi (父) | otousan (お父さん) |
| Mother | haha (母) | okaasan (お母さん) |
| Parents | ryoushin (両親) | go-ryoushin (ご両親) |
| Older Brother | ani (兄) | oniisan (お兄さん) |
| Older Sister | ane (姉) | oneesan (お姉さん) |
| Younger Brother | otouto (弟) | otoutosan (弟さん) |
| Younger Sister | imouto (妹) | imoutosan (妹さん) |
| Siblings | kyoudai (兄弟) | go-kyoudai (ご兄弟) |
| Grandfather | sofu (祖父) | ojiisan (おじいさん) |
| Grandmother | sobo (祖母) | obaasan (おばあさん) |
| Grandparents | sofubo (祖父母) | sofu & sobo / ojiisan & obaasan |
| Uncle | oji (叔父 / 伯父) | ojisan (おじさん) |
| Aunt | oba (叔母 / 伯母) | obasan (おばさん) |
| Cousin (male) | itoko (いとこ) | otoko no itoko (男のいとこ) |
| Cousin (female) | itoko (いとこ) | onna no itoko (女のいとこ) |
| Husband | otto (夫) | goshujin (ご主人) |
| Wife | tsuma (妻) | okusan (奥さん) |
| Spouse | haigusha (配偶者) | go-shujin / okusan |
| Son | musuko (息子) | musukosan (息子さん) |
| Daughter | musume (娘) | ojousan (お嬢さん) |
| Child | kodomo (子供) | okosan (お子さん) |
| Children | kodomotachi (子供たち) | okosama (お子様) |
| Family | kazoku (家族) | go-kazoku (ご家族) |
📝 Note:
- When talking about your family to others, use the humble form (no “o” or “go” prefix, usually).
- When talking about someone else’s family, use the respectful form with polite honorifics like お (o-) or ご (go-).
- Some terms (like “itoko” for cousin) stay the same but can be clarified by adding gender or politeness
In Langlandia, characters speak differently depending on who they’re referring to, so you get to see and hear the difference naturally through conversation battles. See the difference in action play now! Practice talking about your family (and others’) the smart way.
Practice Japanese with this Online Game:
| in Japanese | in English | S |
|---|---|---|
| お父さん (Otousan) | Father (polite) | |
| 父 (Chichi) | Father (humble) | |
| お母さん (Okaasan) | Mother (polite) | |
| 母 (Haha) | Mother (humble) | |
| ご両親 (Go-ryoushin) | Parents (polite) | |
| 両親 (Ryoushin) | Parents (humble) | |
| お兄さん (Oniisan) | Older Brother (polite) | |
| 兄 (Ani) | Older Brother (humble) | |
| お姉さん (Oneesan) | Older Sister (polite) | |
| 姉 (Ane) | Older Sister (humble) | |
| 弟さん (Otoutosan) | Younger Brother (polite) | |
| 弟 (Otouto) | Younger Brother (humble) | |
| 妹さん (Imoutosan) | Younger Sister (polite) | |
| 妹 (Imouto) | Younger Sister (humble) | |
| ご兄弟 (Go-kyoudai) | Siblings (polite) | |
| 兄弟 (Kyoudai) | Siblings (humble) | |
| おじいさん (Ojiisan) | Grandfather (polite) | |
| 祖父 (Sofu) | Grandfather (humble) | |
| おばあさん (Obaasan) | Grandmother (polite) | |
| 祖母 (Sobo) | Grandmother (humble) | |
| おじいさん & おばあさん (Ojiisan & Obaasan) | Grandparents (polite) | |
| 祖父母 (Sofubo) | Grandparents (humble) | |
| おじさん (Ojisan) | Uncle (polite) | |
| 叔父 / 伯父 (Oji) | Uncle (humble) | |
| おばさん (Obasan) | Aunt (polite) | |
| 叔母 / 伯母 (Oba) | Aunt (humble) | |
| 男のいとこ (Otoko no Itoko) | Cousin (male, polite) | |
| いとこ (Itoko) | Cousin (male, humble) | |
| 女のいとこ (Onna no Itoko) | Cousin (female, polite) | |
| いとこ (Itoko) | Cousin (female, humble) | |
| ご主人 (Goshujin) | Husband (polite) | |
| 夫 (Otto) | Husband (humble) | |
| 奥さん (Okusan) | Wife (polite) | |
| 妻 (Tsuma) | Wife (humble) | |
| ご主人 / 奥さん (Go-shujin / Okusan) | Spouse (polite) | |
| 配偶者 (Haigusha) | Spouse (humble) | |
| 息子さん (Musukosan) | Son (polite) | |
| 息子 (Musuko) | Son (humble) | |
| お嬢さん (Ojousan) | Daughter (polite) | |
| 娘 (Musume) | Daughter (humble) | |
| お子さん (Okosan) | Child (polite) | |
| 子供 (Kodomo) | Child (humble) | |
| お子様 (Okosama) | Children (polite) | |
| 子供たち (Kodomotachi) | Children (humble) | |
| ご家族 (Go-kazoku) | Family (polite) | |
| 家族 (Kazoku) | Family (humble) |
Why Is There a Difference in Family Terms?
It all comes down to Japanese social culture and the concept of uchi-soto (内外) “inside vs. outside.” Basically, people inside your group (like your family) get humble language, and people outside your group (like someone else’s family) get honorific, respectful words.
Example Sentence:
- “My mother is at home.” → Haha wa ie ni imasu. (母は家にいます)
- “Is your mother at home?” → Okaasan wa ie ni imasu ka? (お母さんは家にいますか？)
Everyone uses family terms, but the way you use them can vary. Younger kids might refer to their parents in cuter, simplified ways (like papa or mama), while adults tend to stick with the more formal or humble styles.
Variations:
- Mom (casual): mama (ママ)
- Mom (formal): okāsan (お母さん)
- Mom (humble): haha (母)
This might sound tricky at first, but the more you see and use it, the easier it becomes. Langlandia’s levels introduce these family names gradually and let you practice them with both casual and formal.
Where and When Do You Use These Family Terms?
You’ll use these terms everywhere when introducing people, texting friends, watching anime, or talking to your host family in Japan. But what really matters is when and who you’re talking to.
If you’re speaking to:
- Your sibling or friend → casual, use humble forms (e.g. chichi, haha)
- A teacher or stranger → respectful, use polite forms (e.g. otōsan, okāsan)
Example:
- Casual: これはぼくのちちです。(Kore wa boku no chichi desu.) → This is my dad.
- Polite: お父さんはお元気ですか？(Otōsan wa ogenki desu ka?) → How is your father?
🧑🤝🧑 Casual Conversation Between Friends – Family Terms Table
| Speaker | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| さやか | ねえねえ、週末なにしてた？ | Nee nee, shuumatsu nani shiteta? | Hey, what’d you do this weekend? |
| ゆうた | うちのちちと野球見に行った！ | Uchi no chichi to yakyuu mi ni itta! | I went to watch baseball with my dad! |
| さやか | いいな〜。おとうさん、野球好きなんだ？ | Ii naa~. Otousan, yakyuu suki nan da? | Nice! Your dad likes baseball? |
| ゆうた | うん、めっちゃ好き。テレビの前でいつも叫んでる（笑） | Un, meccha suki. Terebi no mae de itsumo sakenderu (lol) | Yeah, he’s super into it. Always yelling at the TV lol. |
| けんじ | そういえば、ははは？元気？ | Sou ieba, haha wa? Genki? | By the way, how’s your mom? |
| ゆうた | 元気だよ！この前、母の手作りカレー食べたけど、やばうまかった！ | Genki da yo! Kono mae, haha no tezukuri karee tabeta kedo, yaba umakatta! | She’s good! Had her homemade curry—insanely good! |
| さやか | うちのお母さんもカレー作るけど、レトルトしか使わない（笑） | Uchi no okaasan mo karee tsukuru kedo, retoruto shika tsukawanai (lol) | My mom makes curry too, but only with instant packets lol. |
| けんじ | あはは、うちのお父さんは料理一切しない。 | Ahaha, uchi no otousan wa ryouri issai shinai. | Haha, my dad never cooks at all. |
| ゆうた | あー、わかる（笑）うちのちちも全然ダメ。 | Aa, wakaru (lol). Uchi no chichi mo zenzen dame. | Totally. My dad’s useless in the kitchen too lol. |
💡 Tips:
- Use chichi/haha when talking about your own parents.
- Use otousan/okaasan when talking about someone else’s parents even with friends.
In Langlandia, the game’s “Casual vs. Formal” mode helps you train your ear and mind for these differences. You’ll switch modes depending on who your opponent is in a battle or conversation quest.
How Can You Learn Japanese Family Names Quickly Without Getting Confused?
The best way to learn is through engagement and repetition in context. And that’s exactly what Langlandia offers:
Langlandia Features That Help You Master Family Vocab Fast:
- PVP Battles – Compete using correct vocabulary in real-time quizzes.
- Langlympics – Challenge friends or global learners in games that test your understanding.
- Clan Wars – Team up and gain XP by helping your clan with vocabulary mastery.
- Classroom Mode – Join a live, guided learning path that adapts to your level and shows you when to use each term.
Download here!
If you enjoyed this article, make sure to explore more of our free Japanese study resources! Check out our Japanese blog for tips, vocabulary lists, and more cultural insights that will make your learning experience even more enjoyable.
