How to Introduce Family Members in Japanese (Complete Guide)
When learning Japanese, one of the first real-world skills you’ll need is introducing your family.
Unlike English, Japanese changes the words you use depending on whose family you are talking about — your own, or someone else’s.
This is an important cultural point, and getting it right will immediately make your Japanese sound more natural.
The Key Rule
In Japanese:
- Your own family → humble terms
- Someone else’s family → polite/honorific terms
This reflects respect and social awareness, which are central to Japanese communication.
Referring to Someone Else’s Family (Polite Form)
Use these when asking or speaking about another person’s family:
| Family | Japanese | Intonation |
| Family | ご家族 (ごかぞく) | Go kazoku |
| Mother | お母さん (おかあさん) | Okaasan |
| Father | お父さん (おとうさん) | Otousan |
| Grandmother | お婆さん (おばあさん) | Obaasan |
| Grandfather | お爺さん (おじいさん) | Ojiisan |
| Aunt | おばさん | Obasan |
| Uncle | おじさん | Ojisan |
| Older Sister | お姉さん (おねえさん) | Oneesan |
| Older Brother | お兄さん (おにいさん) | Oniisan |
| Younger Sister | 妹 (いもうと) | Imouto |
| Younger Brother | 弟 (おとうと) | Otouto |
| Brothers and Sisters | ご兄弟 (ごきょうだい) | Go kyoudai |
| Husband | ご主人 (ごしゅじん) | Go Shujin |
| Wife | 奥さん (おくさん) | Okusan |
Referring to Your Own Family (Humble Form)
Use these when talking about your own family:
| Family | Japanese | Intonation |
| Family | 家族 (ごかぞく) | Kazoku |
| Mother | 母 (はは) | Haha |
| Father | 父 (ちち) | Chichi |
| Grandmother | 祖母 (そぼ) | Sobo |
| Grandfather | 祖父 (そふ) | Sofu |
| Aunt (If Older than Parent) | 伯母 (おば) | Oba |
| Aunt (If Younger than Parent) | 叔母 (おば) | Oba |
| Uncle (If Older than Parent) | 伯父 (おじ) | Oji |
| Uncle (If Younger than Parent) | 叔父 (おじ) | Oji |
| Older Sister | 姉 (あね) | Ane |
| Older Brother | 兄 (あに) | Ani |
| Younger Sister | 妹 (いもうと) | Imouto |
| Younger Brother | 弟 (おとうと) | Otouto |
| Brother and Sisters | 兄弟 (きょうだい) | Kiyoudai |
| Husband | 主人 (しゅじん) | Shujin |
| Wife | 妻 (つま) | Tsuma |
| Cousin (Male) | 従兄弟 (いとこ) | Itoko |
| Cousin (Female) | 従姉妹 (いとこ) | Itoko |
Common Mistake
A lot of learners say:
❌ “お母さん” when talking about their own mother
This sounds unnatural.
Instead:
✔️ Say 母 (haha)
💬 Example Sentences
- 私の母は日本に住んでいます
My mother lives in Japan - ご家族はお元気ですか？
How is your family?
Final Tip
If you remember just one thing:
Be humble about your own family, and respectful about others
This small distinction makes a huge difference in sounding natural in Japanese.
