The family
Japanese uses different words for your own family and for someone else's.
My family and someone else's
Use the left-hand column when talking about your own family to other people. Use the right-hand one to talk about the listener's family — or to address your own parents.
| Person | My family | Someone else's family |
|---|---|---|
| father | 父 | お 父さん |
| mother | 母 | お 母さん |
| husband | 夫／主人 | ご 主人 |
| wife | 妻／家内 | 奥さん |
| son/child | 子ども | お 子さん |
| older brother | 兄 | お 兄さん |
| older sister | 姉 | お 姉さん |
| younger brother | 弟 | 弟さん |
| younger sister | 妹 | 妹さん |
| grandfather | 祖父 | おじいさん |
| grandmother | 祖母 | おばあさん |
| parents | 両親 | ご 両親 |
| siblings | 兄弟 | ご 兄弟 |
| family | 家族 | ご 家族 |