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Grammar detail: family members
family members
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My current mastery of this grammar:
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grandmother
- そふgrandfather
- ははmother
- ちちfather
- あにolder brother
- あねolder sister
- おとうとyounger brother
- いもうと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
さん and おかあ
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
さん', 'おねえ
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:
- おばあさんgrandmother
- おじいさん grandfather
- おかあさんmother
- おとうさん father
- おにいさん older brother
- おねえさん older sister
- おとうとさん younger brother
- いもうとさん younger sister
Words used in this grammar
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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)
4
1
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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)
1
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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)
1
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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)
5
1
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1
6
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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)
1
7
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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)
5
3
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2. (vocative) young man; buddy; fella; laddie
(click the word to view an additional 2 forms)
5
5
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5
4
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Kanji used in this grammar
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