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Japanese Lesson 3: How To Address Family Members & People

Addressing of Family Members

 

Today, let us learn how to address your family members in Japanese. You will see 2 different categories(Formal Way and Other Ways) of addressing your family members in Japanese.

Formal Way is the actual way of addressing your family members while Other Ways is other ways of addressing your family members in Japanese to show affections.

 

  Formal Way Other Ways Sound Clip

 Image

 Grandfather

 おじいさん / お祖父さん / お爺さん Ojiisan じじ Jiji

 

 

 Image

 Grandmother

 おばあさん / お祖母さん / お婆さん Obaasan ばば Baba
 

 Image

 Father

 おとうさん / お父さん Otousan 父親 / ちちおや Chichioya, ちち Chichi, パパ Papa

 

 

 Image

 Mother

 おかあさん / お母さん Okaasan 母親 / ははおや Hahapya, はは Haha, ママ Mama
 

 Image

 Elder Brother

 おにいさん / お兄さん Oniisan おにいちゃん Oniichan, あに / 兄 Ani
 

 Image

 Elder Sister

 おねえさん / お姉さん Oneesan おねえちゃん Oneechan, あね / 姉 Ane

 

 

 Image

 Younger Brother

 おとうと / 弟 Otouto 

 

 

 Image

 Younger Sister

 いもうと / 妹 Imouto 

 

 

 Image

 Uncle

 おじさん / 小父さん / 叔父さん / 伯父さんOjisan おじ Oji

 

 

 Image

 Auntie

 おばさん / 小母さん / 叔母さん / 伯母さんObasan おば Oba
 

 

*Japanese words relating to family (listen to the sound clip for pronounciation):

  Family - 家族 / かぞく Kazoku

  Brothers - 兄弟 / きょうだい Kyoudai

  Sisters - 姉妹 / しまい Shimai

  Baby - 赤ちゃん / あかちゃん Akachan

 

 


Addressing of People

 

How do you address people in Japanese?

In English, we address people as Mr. George, Mrs. Alice, Miss March and Ms. Strawberry; "Mr.", "Mrs", "Miss" and "Ms." are placed in front of the names.

However in Japanese, we address people as Oji-sama(Grandfather), Natsu-san(Mr./Mrs/Miss/Ms), Ken-kun and Kou-chan; "sama", "san", "kun" and "chan" are placed behind the names. Below explain when to use each of the addressing words.

 

  When to use
 Example

 -さま

 -sama

 When addressing to someone of high respect or holding a high position  Ojyou-sama

 -さん

 -san

 When addressing to strangers or people you know to show respect. It's the same as Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms.  Natsu-san

 -くん

 -kun

 When addressing to male close friends or boys as a sign of affection; cutting the name shorter

 Ken-kun

 (Kenichi) 

 -ちゃん -chan  When addressing to close friends as a sign of affection; cutting the name shorter

 Kou-chan

 (kouichi)

 - せんせい

 -sensei

 When addressing male/female teachers and doctors
 Tanaka-sensei



Referring to People and Yourself

 

This is how you refer to people and yourself in Japanese. 

 

 English words Japanese words
 Sound Clip
 I, me

 わたし/私 Watashi (Formal way)

 おれわ/折れわ Orewa (Informal way)

 

 

 You

 あなた/貴方 Anata (Formal way)

 きみ/君 Kimi (Informal way)

 

 

 He, him
 かれ/彼 Kare

 

 

 She, her
 かのじょ/彼女 Kanojo

 

 

 We, us
 わたしたち/私たち Watashi tachi

 

 

 You(plural)
 あなたたち Anata tachi

 

 

 They
 あのひとたち Ano hito tachi

 

 

 


Don't Give Up On Learning Japanese!

 


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Thank you, its good!
H.T     | 14-05-08 11:28:32
Thanks for the compliment~!

I will work hard to post more Japanese lessons...

Currently I'm busy with my work and studies that's y there are no new Japanese lessons...
Cynthia - :D   | 18-04-09 16:44:14
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H.T     | 20-05-09 10:22:09
Hello Cynthia!

Thanks!!!

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Hi Rio,

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