Translation guide
In Japanese, the concept of extended family is often expressed through specific terms for relatives or by describing the family group. There is no single everyday word that perfectly matches 'extended family' in all contexts.
Referring to one's extended family as a whole, including relatives beyond the nuclear family.
The most common and general word for 'relatives' or 'extended family'. It includes all blood relatives and relatives by marriage outside the immediate household.
お正月に親戚が集まった。
The extended family gathered for New Year's.
A more formal or legal term for 'relatives' or 'kin'. Often used in official contexts, such as family registers or legal documents.
親族一同で集まるのは久しぶりだ。
It's been a while since the whole extended family got together.
Literally 'large family'. This can refer to an extended family living together, but it more commonly means a nuclear family with many children. Use with caution.
Often misunderstood as 'extended family' by learners, but it usually means a large nuclear family.
昔は三世代の大家族が普通だった。
In the past, three-generation extended families were common.
Describing a living arrangement where multiple generations or relatives live together.
A 'three-generation family', typically grandparents, parents, and children living together. This is a common way to describe an extended family household.
三世代家族で暮らしています。
We live as a three-generation family.
A 'two-family house' designed for two generations to live together but with separate living spaces. Common in modern Japan.
二世帯住宅を建てる計画です。
We're planning to build a two-family house.
Referring to particular members of the extended family, such as aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Japanese has a rich set of kinship terms. Instead of a generic 'extended family', it's often more natural to name the specific relatives, e.g., おじ (uncle), おば (aunt), いとこ (cousin).
おじやおば、いとこたちが遊びに来た。
My aunts, uncles, and cousins came to visit.
親戚 (しんせき) is the everyday word for relatives, used in casual conversation. 親族 (しんぞく) is more formal and often appears in legal or official contexts, such as inheritance or family registration.
Many learners mistakenly use 大家族 (だいかぞく) to mean 'extended family'. In Japanese, 大家族 usually means a nuclear family with many children. To describe an extended family living together, use 三世代家族 (さんせだいかぞく) or describe the living arrangement.