Translation guide
In Japanese, referring to family members depends heavily on whether you are talking about your own family or someone else's, and on the level of politeness required. There are distinct humble and honorific terms, and often the most natural choice is to use a kinship term without a possessive.
When speaking about your own family to someone outside your family, use humble terms.
General term for 'family member' or 'family'. Can be used to refer to one's own family as a whole or a member thereof.
家族が一人います。
I have one family member (with me).
家族は東京に住んでいます。
My family lives in Tokyo.
Refers to one's own family or relatives, often used in contexts like 'among family' or 'close relatives'. Slightly more intimate than 家族.
身内だけで集まりました。
We gathered with just family members.
When speaking about someone else's family, use honorific terms to show respect.
Honorific form of 家族. Used to refer to the family of someone you respect.
ご家族はお元気ですか。
How is your family?
Polite way to refer to a family member of someone else. Literally 'person of the family'.
家族の方がいらっしゃいました。
A family member (of yours) was here.
When the context doesn't require humble/honorific distinctions, or in written/descriptive language.
Literally 'a member of the family'. Neutral and can be used in various contexts.
彼は家族の一員のように感じます。
He feels like a family member.
Refers to relatives or kin, often used in legal or formal contexts. Broader than immediate family.
親族が集まって話し合いました。
The relatives gathered and discussed.
Japanese has distinct words for specific family members depending on whose family you're talking about. This is a core concept.
For example, 'mother' is 母 (はは) when referring to your own, but お母さん (おかあさん) for someone else's. This pattern applies to most kinship terms.
母は料理が上手です。
My mother is good at cooking.
お母さんは料理が上手ですね。
Your mother is good at cooking, isn't she?
In many situations, you don't need to explicitly say 'family member'; the relationship is understood from the kinship term itself.
Instead of saying 'a family member, my brother', simply say 'brother' using the appropriate humble/honorific form.
兄が医者です。
My older brother is a doctor. (lit. 'Older brother is a doctor')
Directly translating 'family member' as 家族メンバー or similar is unnatural. Use the appropriate kinship term or 家族/ご家族 depending on context.
家族 (かぞく) refers to immediate family living together or closely connected. 親族 (しんぞく) is a broader legal term for relatives, including extended family.