Translation guide
A stepfamily is a family formed when one parent marries someone who is not the biological parent of their children. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through specific terms for step-relations and general phrases describing blended families.
Referring to the blended family as a whole, including stepparents and stepchildren.
Literally 'step-family', this is the most direct term for a stepfamily. It is used in formal contexts like legal documents or official descriptions.
彼は継家族の中で育った。
He grew up in a stepfamily.
Loanword from English, used in casual or modern contexts, often in media or self-help.
ステップファミリーのためのサポートグループがあります。
There is a support group for stepfamilies.
Means 'remarriage family', emphasizing the remarriage aspect. Common in everyday conversation.
再婚家庭では、子供たちが新しい環境に慣れるのに時間がかかることがあります。
In a stepfamily, children may take time to adjust to the new environment.
Referring to a stepmother or stepfather.
Stepmother. Neutral term, but can carry negative connotations in some contexts (like fairy tales).
私の継母はとても優しいです。
My stepmother is very kind.
Stepfather. Neutral term.
Literally 'mother-in-law', but can be used for stepmother in some contexts, though it's ambiguous. Usually refers to spouse's mother.
Can be confused with mother-in-law. Use 継母 for clarity.
義理の母と同居しています。
I live with my mother-in-law/stepmother.
Referring to a stepson or stepdaughter.
Stepchild (gender-neutral). Can be used for stepson or stepdaughter.
彼女は継子を自分の子供のように育てた。
She raised her stepchild as her own.
Stepson specifically.
継息子が大学に入学しました。
My stepson entered university.
Stepdaughter specifically.
継娘と一緒に料理をしました。
I cooked with my stepdaughter.
Referring to a stepbrother or stepsister.
Stepbrother or stepsibling (male). Literally 'brother-in-law', but used for stepbrother in stepfamily contexts.
義理の兄弟と仲良くしています。
I get along well with my stepbrother.
Stepsister. Literally 'sister-in-law'.
義理の姉妹が二人います。
I have two stepsisters.
Stepbrother (less common, more formal).
継兄弟との関係は複雑です。
The relationship with my stepbrother is complicated.
Describing the nature of step-relationships without specific terms.
Often, Japanese speakers describe step-relations by mentioning the remarriage context, e.g., '父が再婚したので、新しい兄弟ができた' (Because my father remarried, I got new siblings).
母が再婚して、義理の父ができました。
My mother remarried, so I have a stepfather.
Literally 'family not connected by blood', a descriptive phrase for stepfamily members.
血のつながっていない家族でも、本当の家族のように感じます。
Even though we're a stepfamily, we feel like a real family.
The prefix 継 (まま) can sound old-fashioned or negative in some contexts (e.g., 継母 in fairy tales). In casual conversation, people often use 義理の (giri no) or describe the relationship through remarriage.
In daily life, stepfamily members often address each other by name or familial titles like お父さん (otousan) or お母さん (okaasan) regardless of blood relation, especially if the remarriage happened when children were young.
継父と釣りに行きました。
I went fishing with my stepfather.