Translation guide
In Japanese, how you refer to your own eldest son versus someone else's eldest son differs significantly. This guide covers the most common and natural ways to express 'eldest son' depending on the social context.
When talking about your own eldest son to someone outside your family, use humble language.
Standard humble term for one's own eldest son when speaking to outsiders. Used in formal and neutral contexts.
長男は来年大学を卒業します。
My eldest son will graduate from university next year.
Literally 'older son', a more casual and descriptive way to refer to your eldest son in conversation.
上の息子は今、海外に住んでいます。
My older son is living abroad now.
When talking about the eldest son of someone outside your family, use respectful language.
Polite prefix ご added to 長男. The standard respectful way to refer to another person's eldest son.
ご長男はおいくつですか。
How old is your eldest son?
Adding さん to 長男 makes it polite. Slightly less formal than ご長男 but still respectful.
長男さんはとても優秀だそうですね。
I hear your eldest son is very talented.
A polite version of 上の息子. Used in casual polite conversation, but ご長男 is more common.
上の息子さんはもう社会人ですか。
Is your older son already working?
When speaking within your own family, you might use more intimate terms or simply the son's name.
Within the family, it's most natural to call your eldest son by his given name. You can add 兄さん (にいさん) if speaking from a younger sibling's perspective.
太郎、ご飯だよ。
Taro, dinner's ready!
お兄ちゃん、遊ぼう。
Big brother, let's play.
Can be used within the family when discussing roles or inheritance, but not as a direct address.
長男が家を継ぐことになっている。
The eldest son is supposed to inherit the family house.
When describing someone as the eldest son in a neutral context, such as in a story or article.
The standard neutral term. Can be used for both one's own and others' eldest sons in descriptive contexts.
彼は長男としての責任を感じている。
He feels the responsibility of being the eldest son.
An older, more formal term for the eldest son, often used in historical or legal contexts regarding inheritance.
When speaking Japanese, do not directly translate 'my eldest son' as 私の長男 (わたしのちょうなん) in most situations. The possessive 私の is usually omitted because it's understood from context. Simply say 長男.
長男 is the standard term and can be used in most situations. 上の息子 is more casual and descriptive, often used when you have multiple sons and want to specify the older one without the formality of 長男.
総領の甚六
The eldest son is often spoiled and incompetent (proverb).