okāsan / mama / otōsan / nīsan / ojīchan… How to refer to family members in Japanese

What are some of the ways to refer to family members in Japanese? In this article, we will explain how to call your mother, father, older brother, older sister, younger brother, younger sister, grandfather, and grandmother respectively.

1.　How to call your mother

• お母さん (okāsan)

“お母さん” (okāsan) is a general term for a mother in Japanese. Some people call her ”母ちゃん” (kāchan) or ”母さん” (kāsan). There is also a very polite expression, ”お母様” (okāsama). ”お母様” (okāsama) is not used to call your own mother, but to call other mothers. When a daughter-in-law calls her mother-in-law, she sometimes uses ”お母様” (okāsama).

Example

お母さん、いつも温かく見守ってくれてありがとう。

Okāsan, itsumo atatakaku mimamotte kurete arigatō.

Thank you, Mom, for always watching over me warmly.

Example

母さん、夕飯まだ？

Kāsan, yūhan mada?

Mom, is dinner ready yet?

Example

明日はお母様の誕生日ですか？

Ashita wa okāsama no tanjōbi desu ka?

Is tomorrow your mother's birthday?

• おかん (okan)

“おかん” (okan) is a dialect of the Kansai region in Japan that is used to call a mother.

Example

おかん、ご飯まだ？

Okan, gohan mada？

Mom, is dinner yet?

• おふくろ (ofukuro)

“おふくろ” (ofukuro) is one of the ways of addressing a mother, and nowadays it is mainly used by men.

Example

おふくろが作ってくれたお弁当はおいしい。

Ofukruro ga tsukutte kureta obentō wa oishī.

The lunch which my mother makes is good.

• ママ (mama)

“ママ” (mama) is a slightly childish way of addressing a mother. Therefore, even if you use “ママ” (mama) as a child, it is often changed to ”お母さん” when you become an adult.

Example

ママ大好き！

Mama daisuki!

I love you, Mommy!

By the way, ”ママ” (mama) is sometimes used to call the hostess of a bar or tavern.

Example

ママ、いつものお酒お願い！

Mama, itsumo no osake onegai!

I’ll have my usual drink, please.

• 母上 (hahaue)

“母上” (hahaue) is a term of respect for a mother. In modern times, “母上” (hahaue) is rarely used. However, in some historical dramas, “母上” (hahaue) is still used.

Example

母上からのお便りを拝見しました。

Hahaue kara no otayori wo haiken shimashita.

I read a letter from my mother.

• 母 (haha)

“母” (haha) is a humble form of a mother and is used to refer to your own mother to others.

Example

うちの母がいつもお世話になっております。

Uti no haha ga itsumo osewa ni natte orimasu.

Thank you for always looking after my mother.

２.　How to call your father

• お父さん (otōsan)

“お父さん” (otōsan) is a common Japanese term for a father. Like ”お母さん” (okāsan), he is sometimes referred to as ”父ちゃん” (tōchan), ”父さん” (tōsan), or ”お父様” (otōsama).

Example

お父さん、いつもお仕事頑張ってくれてありがとう。

Otōsan, itsumo oshigoto ganbatte kurete arigatō.

Dad, thank you for always working hard.

Example

お父様はお元気ですか？

Otōsama wa ogenki desu ka?

How are your father?

• おやじ (oyaji)

“おやじ” (oyaji) is a term used to refer to a father, and is mainly used by men. People who call their fathers “おやじ” (oyaji) often call their mothers ”おふくろ” (ofukuro).

Example

おやじ最近元気にしてる？

Oyaji saikin genki ni shiteru?

Is Dad well these days?

“おやじ” (oyaji) is sometimes used to mean “older man” rather than “father.”

Example

彼は随分おやじになったなあ。

Kare wa zuibun oyaji ni natta nā.

He's become quite an old man.

• おとん (oton)

“おとん” (oton), like ”おかん (okan), is a dialect word in the Kansai region of Japan used to call a father.

Example

おとん、今日は何をしてたの？

Oton, kyō wa nani wo shiteta no?

What did you do today, Dad?

• パパ (papa)

“パパ” (papa), like ”ママ” (mama), is mainly used by children to call their fathers.

Example

私のパパはいつも優しい！

Watashi no papa wa itsumo yasashī!

My daddy is always gentle!

Example

君のパパはかっこいいね！

Kimi no papa wa kakkoī ne!

Your dad is cool!

• 父 (chichi)

“父” (chichi) is a humble form of a father, and like ”母” (haha), it is used to refer to your own father to others.

Example

父は昨年、会社を退職しました。

Chichi wa sakunen, kaisha wo taishoku shimashita.

My father left the company last year.

[日本のことが気になる？一緒に日本語を学びませんか？]

３.　How to call your older brother

• 兄さん (nīsan)

“兄さん” (nīsan) is one of the ways to address an older brother.

Example

淳史兄さん、何か食べる？

Atsushi-nīsan, nani ka taberu？

You want something to eat, Atsushi?

Similar to “兄さん” (nīsan), ”お兄さん” (onīsan) is sometimes used to refer to “a young man,” even if he is not your brother.

Example

ちょっとそこのお兄さん。道を教えてほしい。

Chotto soko no onīsan. Michi wo oshiete hoshī.

Hey, there, young man. Could you show me the way?

• お兄ちゃん (onīchan)

“お兄ちゃん” (onīchan) is one of the ways to address an older brother. It is probably a more familiar term than ”兄さん” (nīsan). Some people call him ”兄ちゃん” (nīchan).

Example

浩一お兄ちゃん、一緒に遊んでよ！

Kōichi-onīchan, issho ni asonde yo!

Koichi, play with me!

• 兄貴 (aniki)

“兄貴” (aniki) is a friendly way of addressing an older brother.

Example

私の兄貴は頼れる存在です。

Watashi no aniki wa tayoreru sonzai desu.

My brother is a reliable person.

“兄貴” (aniki) is sometimes used to refer to a man who is older than you or the head of an organization, even if he is not your brother.

Example

兄貴にどこまでもついていきます！

Aniki ni doko made mo tsuite ikimasu!

I'll follow you anywhere, chief!

４.　How to call your older sister

• 姉さん (nēsan)

“姉さん” (nēsan) is one of the ways to address an older sister.

Example

綾乃姉さんはいつも元気だね！

Ayano-nēsan wa itsumo genkida ne!

You're always so cheerful, Ayano!

“姉さん” (nēsan) and ”お姉さん” (onēsan) are sometimes used to refer to “young women,” even if they are not your sisters.

Example

お姉さん！ビールちょうだい。

Onēsan! Bīru chōdai.

Hey Miss! Give me beer.

• お姉ちゃん (onēchan)

“お姉ちゃん” (onēchan) is one of the ways to call an older sister. It is a more familiar term than “姉さん (nēsan). Some people also call her ”姉ちゃん” (nēchan).

• 姉御 (anego)

“姉御” (anego) is one way of referring to an older sister, but nowadays it can also mean “a dependable woman.” A woman who is dependable and caring is often referred to as ”姉御肌” (anegohada).

Example

彼女は姉御肌で、みんなから好かれている。

Kanojo wa anegohada de, min'na kara sukarete iru.

She's a dependable person and loved by everyone.

５.　How to call your younger brother and sister

Most older brothers and sisters call their younger brothers, ”弟” (otōto), and younger sisters, ”妹” (imōto), by their first names. For example, if someone has a younger brother whose name is ”太郎” (Tarō), he/she would call him ”太郎” (Tarō).

Example

太郎！お母さんの言うことを聞かないとダメだよ！

Tarō! Okāsan no iu koto wo kikanaito dameda yo!

Taro! You have to listen to your mom!

６.　How to call your grandfather and grandmother

• おじいちゃん、おばあちゃん (ojīchan, obāchan)

“おじいちゃん” (ojīchan) is used to refer to a grandfather, and ”おばあちゃん” (obāchan) is used to refer to a grandmother. Some people call them ”じいちゃん、ばあちゃん” (jīchan, bāchan).

Example

夏休みはおじいちゃんの家に遊びに行きます。

Natsuyasumi wa ojīchan no ie ni asobi ni ikimasu.

During the summer vacation, I go to visit my grandpa's house.

• じいじ、ばあば (jīji, bāba)

“じいじ” (jīji) is a familiar term for a grandfather, and ”ばあば” (bāba) is a familiar term for a grandmother. It is often used by children to call their grandfather and grandmother.

Example

早くじいじとばあばに会いたいなあ。

Hayaku jīji to bāba ni aitai nā.

I want to see my grandpa and grandma soon.

In Japanese, there are many ways to call your family members. Other than this, do you know what to call your aunt or uncle, great-grandfather or great-grandmother in Japanese?

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