JLPT N5 · Vocabulary by topic
JLPT N5 Japanese Family Vocabulary
The dual-register family terms (humble vs honorific) every Japanese learner needs at N5.
Why this list
Japanese family vocabulary is one of the few places where N5 forces you to deal with politeness levels right away. Every family term has two forms: a humble version for your own family and an honorific version for someone else's.
The pattern is simple once you see it: humble forms are bare or use plain readings (父 chichi); honorific forms add お~さん (お父さん otōsan). Use humble when speaking about your own; honorific when addressing or referring to someone else's.
The 26 words
| Kanji | Kana | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 家族 | かぞく | kazoku | family |
| 両親 | りょうしん | ryōshin | parents (formal) |
| 父 | ちち | chichi | father (own; humble) |
| お父さん | おとうさん | otōsan | father (someone else's; honorific) |
| 母 | はは | haha | mother (own; humble) |
| お母さん | おかあさん | okāsan | mother (someone else's; honorific) |
| 兄 | あに | ani | older brother (own) |
| お兄さん | おにいさん | onīsan | older brother (someone else's) |
| 姉 | あね | ane | older sister (own) |
| お姉さん | おねえさん | onēsan | older sister (someone else's) |
| 弟 | おとうと | otōto | younger brother |
| 妹 | いもうと | imōto | younger sister |
| 兄弟 | きょうだい | kyōdai | siblings |
| 祖父 | そふ | sofu | grandfather (own) |
| おじいさん | おじいさん | ojīsan | grandfather (someone else's) |
| 祖母 | そぼ | sobo | grandmother (own) |
| おばあさん | おばあさん | obāsan | grandmother (someone else's) |
| おじさん | おじさん | ojisan | uncle; middle-aged man |
| おばさん | おばさん | obasan | aunt; middle-aged woman |
| 夫 | おっと | otto | husband (own) |
| 妻 | つま | tsuma | wife (own) |
| ご主人 | ごしゅじん | goshujin | husband (someone else's) |
| 奥さん | おくさん | okusan | wife (someone else's) |
| 子供 | こども | kodomo | child |
| 息子 | むすこ | musuko | son (own) |
| 娘 | むすめ | musume | daughter (own) |
Common questions
Why do Japanese family words have two forms?+
It's part of the broader humble/honorific (uchi/soto) distinction. When talking about your own group (family, company, school), you use humble forms; when talking about others, you use honorific forms. Family vocabulary is the most common place beginners encounter this.
Can I just use the honorific form for everything?+
No, it sounds wrong — like calling your own mother 'Mrs. Mom' to a stranger. Japanese requires the humble form when referring to your own family in conversation. Get the pair right from day one.
Are these readings the only ones?+
These are the standard readings. Older or regional speech sometimes uses 父さん (tōsan) or 母さん (kāsan) without the お. For learner safety, stick to the お~さん forms until you have native context to know when to drop them.
Related
The 26words above are part of Inku's 515-card N5 deck, all with bundled pronunciation audio and FSRS spaced review. Try Inku free for 7 days.