Translation guide
The English word 'maternal' relates to mothers or the mother's side of the family. In Japanese, there is no single adjective that covers all uses. Instead, different expressions are used depending on whether you are talking about relatives, feelings, or qualities.
maternal grandmother
maternal instinct
Describing relatives on the mother's side, such as maternal grandmother, maternal uncle, etc.
This pattern means 'on the mother's side' and is the standard way to specify maternal relatives.
My maternal grandmother lives in Kyoto.
My maternal uncle is a doctor.
Literally 'mother's [relative]'. More casual and common in speech, but can be ambiguous if context doesn't make it clear.
My mother's cousin is getting married next week.
Describing nurturing, protective feelings typically associated with a mother.
A noun meaning 'motherhood' or 'maternal instinct'. Often used in compounds like 母性愛 (maternal love) or 母性本能 (maternal instinct).
She has a strong maternal instinct.
Means 'like a mother' or 'motherly'. Used to describe someone's behavior or attitude.
A na-adjective meaning 'maternal' or 'motherly'. Less common than 母性, but can be used attributively.
Describing a relationship that comes from the mother's side, such as maternal lineage or maternal inheritance.
The English loanword マターナル is not commonly used in Japanese. It may appear in some medical or academic contexts, but for everyday speech, use the Japanese expressions above.
母方 (ははかた) means 'maternal side', while 父方 (ちちかた) means 'paternal side'. These are symmetric and very common when specifying family relations.
She showed me maternal affection.
I was moved by her maternal kindness.
He inherited his artistic talent from his maternal line.