Japanese Family Terms

Complete guide to Japanese family vocabulary including polite and humble forms, direct address, and reference terms.

Immediate Family (Your Own)

父 — ちちfather (humble)

母 — ははmother (humble)

兄 — あにolder brother (humble)

姉 — あねolder sister (humble)

弟 — おとうとyounger brother

妹 — いもうとyounger sister

祖父 — そふgrandfather (humble)

祖母 — そぼgrandmother (humble)

お父さん — おとうさんfather (polite)

お母さん — おかあさんmother (polite)

お兄さん — おにいさんolder brother (polite)

お姉さん — おねえさんolder sister (polite)

弟さん — おとうとさんyounger brother (polite)

妹さん — いもうとさんyounger sister (polite)

おじいさんgrandfather (polite)

おばあさんgrandmother (polite)

伯父 / 叔父 — おじuncle

伯母 / 叔母 — おばaunt

従兄弟 — いとこcousin (male)

従姉妹 — いとこcousin (female)

甥 — おいnephew

姪 — めいniece

夫 — おっとhusband

妻 — つまwife

旦那 — だんなhusband (colloquial)

奥さん — おくさんwife (polite)

義理の父 — ぎりのちちfather-in-law

義理の母 — ぎりのははmother-in-law

私の父 = ちちmy father (to others)

あなたのお父さん = おとうさんyour father

Never use humble forms for someone else's familykey rule

Never use polite forms for your own familykey rule