0.2.4 Family & Friends Flashcards

kazoku (かぞく) is the general term to talk about “a family” or “one’s own family”.

Note: When talking about family, Japanese often reveals whose family member it is through word choice. Therefore, possessive pronouns are usually omitted.

For example, Japanese uses different words or honorifics for “your [family member]” vs. “my [family member]”.

That said, you can still use possessive pronouns like “my” (watashi no) if you need to make the distinction even more explicit.

The honorific marker go (ご) is added to “family”, kazoku (かぞく), to express politeness when talking about someone else’s family.

girlfriend = kanojo (かのじょ)

Yes, kanojo (かのじょ), the word for “she”, also means “girlfriend”.

Because subjects and pronouns are often omitted in Japanese, speakers typically avoid saying kanojo (かのじょ) when it might sound like they’re talking about a girlfriend.

boyfriend = kareshi (かれし)

Yes, kare (かれ), the word for “he”, also means “boyfriend”.

Because subjects and pronouns are often omitted in Japanese, speakers typically avoid saying kare (かれ) when it might sound like they’re talking about a boyfriend.

Note: chichi (ちち) is used when talking about your father, not when addressing him or talking about someone else’s.

otousan (おとうさん) is used for both talking about someone else’s father as well as addressing your own.

haha (はは) is used when talking about your mother, not when addressing her or talking about someone else’s.

okaasan (おかあさん) is used for both talking about someone else’s mother as well as addressing your own.

ryoushin (りょうしん) specifically refers to both parents.

The honorific marker go (ご) is added to ryoushin (りょうしん) to express politeness when talking about someone else’s parents.

relative = shinzoku (しんぞく)

shinzoku (しんぞく) can refer to a single relative, a group of relatives, or your entire extended family.

cousin = itoko (いとこ)

South Korea = kankoku (かんこく)

China = chuugoku (ちゅうごく)

The absence of san (さん) at the end of this word (and most family-related vocabulary) typically indicates you are referring to your own family member.

When referring to someone else’s family member, san (さん) is often added for politeness.

Note: ani (あに) is only used when talking about your older brother.

otoutosan (おとうとさん) is a polite way to refer to someone else’s younger brother.

Depending on the context of the sentence, it can mean “your”, “his”, “her”, or “their” younger brother.

The addition of san (さん) shows politeness and is most often used when referring to someone outside your own family.

oniisan (おにいさん) is used for both talking about someone else’s older brother as well as addressing your own.

Note: ane (あね) is only used when talking about your older sister.

imoutosan (いもうとさん) is a polite way to refer to someone else’s younger sister.

Depending on the context of the sentence, it can mean “your”, “his”, “her”, or “their” younger sister.

The addition of san (さん) shows politeness and is most often used when referring to someone outside your own family.