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Grammar detail: family members
family members
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My current mastery of this grammar point:
When communicating in Japanese, it is important that you are able to use the appropriate terms to refer to your own family members and the family members of others.
When referring to one's own family members, in most cases it is best to use the following terms:
- そぼ祖母grandmother
- そふ祖父grandfather
- はは母mother
- ちち父father
- あに兄older brother
- あね姉older sister
- おとうと弟younger brother
- いもうと妹younger sister
While these terms are used to refer to one's own family members, when speaking about these family members within the family, with very close friends and with children it would be more common to use the terms introduced below. It is also worth noting that Japanese children are more likely to use the terms below, up until they reach around high-school age.
When someone addresses their mother or father, in most cases they would say お
とう
父
さん and おかあ
母
さん. Similarly they would address their grandmother or grandfather 'お祖母さん' and 'お祖父さん'. When addressing one's older brother or sister 'おにい
兄
さん', 'おねえ
姉
さん' is used, rather than the sibling's name. ちゃん may replace さん in many cases and is a term of endearment. However, younger siblings are addressed by their names.Families will also often address grandparents as ばあば (granny / gran / nan etc) じいじ (grandpa / gramps etc). These terms express a greater sense of closeness and affection.
These days Japanese children, up to the age of around 10 or 11, often refer to their parents as ママ (Mom / Mama) and パパ (Dad / Papa) and adults are heard more often using these terms when speaking to children about their parents.
When referring to other people's family members, the following terms are used:
- おばあ祖母さんgrandmother
- おじい祖父さん grandfather
- おかあ母さんmother
- おとう父さん father
- おにい兄さん older brother
- おねえ姉さん older sister
- おとうと弟さん younger brother
- いもうと妹さん younger sister
Some of these terms can also be used to refer to people who are not related to the speaker. For example, お
じい
祖父
さん is a common (and perfectly polite) way to refer to an elderly gentleman.See also:
Words used in this grammar
noun, 'no' adjective
grandmother (see also: 婆)(click the word to view an additional 4 readings, examples and links)
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noun, 'no' adjective
1. grandfather2. old man (see also: 爺; this meaning is restricted to reading おおじ)
(click the word to view an additional 5 readings and 1 meaning, examples and links)
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noun
mother (see also: 父; かか was used by children; humble)(click the word to view an additional 5 readings, examples and links)
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noun
father (see also: 母; とと and ちゃん are used by children; humble)(click the word to view an additional 7 readings, examples and links)
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noun
older sister; elder sister (humble)(click the word to view an additional 2 forms, examples and links)
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noun
1. younger brother; little brother; kid brother (humble)2. pupil; apprentice (archaic; this meaning is restricted to reading てい)
(click the word to view an additional 3 readings, examples and links)
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2. male senior-citizen (usu. お爺さん; often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 4 forms, examples and links)
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noun
mother (see also: 母さん; honorific)(click the word to view an additional 2 forms, examples and links)
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noun
father; dad; papa; pa; pop; daddy; dada (see also: 父さん; honorific)(click the word to view an additional 1 reading and 2 forms, examples and links)
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2. (vocative) young man; buddy; fella; laddie
(click the word to view an additional 2 forms, examples and links)
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Kanji used in this grammar
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