1.1 Family Vocabulary (家族)

Your own family

家族 (kazoku) = family. Your own: 母 (haha) = mother, 父 (chichi) = father, 兄 (ani) = older brother, 姉 (ane) = older sister, 弟 (otōto) = younger brother, 妹 (imōto) = younger sister.

Someone else's family

Japanese uses polite forms for others' relatives: お母さん (okāsan) = (your) mother, お父さん (otōsan) = father, お兄さん (oniisan) = older brother, お姉さん (oneesan) = older sister.

Humble vs. polite

You refer to your OWN family humbly (母, 父) but others' family politely (お母さん, お父さん). This in-group/out-group distinction is central to Japanese politeness.

Key terms

家族 (kazoku)

family

母 / 父 (own)

haha / chichi — my mother / my father

お母さん / お父さん (others')

okāsan / otōsan — (their) mother / father

兄 / 姉

ani / ane — older brother / older sister

弟 / 妹

otōto / imōto — younger brother / younger sister

Try an AP-style question

When talking about YOUR OWN mother to others, you say…

1. おばあさん (obaasan)
2. はは (haha)
3. おばさん (obasan)
4. おかあさん (okaasan)