Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing 'whole family' depends on whose family you're talking about and the level of formality. The most common and neutral way is 家族全員 (kazoku zen'in) for your own family. For others' families, ご家族全員 (gokazoku zen'in) is polite. There are also set phrases like 一家全員 (ikka zen'in) for 'the whole household' and idiomatic expressions like 家族揃って (kazoku sorotte) meaning 'with the whole family together'.
The speaker is talking about their own family as a complete group.
The most standard and neutral way to say 'the whole family' when referring to your own family. 家族 (family) + 全員 (all members).
The whole family went to see a movie.
The whole family agreed to the plan.
A more casual, conversational way to say 'the whole family'. みんな means 'everyone'.
Emphasizes that the family is doing something together, all present. Often used for meals, outings, or celebrations.
The speaker is talking about the family of the listener or a third person, using respectful language.
Referring to an entire household as a unit, often in formal contexts or news.
Emphasizing that even distant relatives or the entire clan is included.
Refers to all relatives, not just the nuclear family. Used in legal or formal contexts like inheritance or gatherings.
When speaking about your own family to others, never use the honorific prefix ご. Saying ご家族 to refer to your own family sounds arrogant or mistaken. Use plain 家族 instead.
We're going on a trip with the whole family.
We had dinner with the whole family together.
Please come with your whole family.
Is your whole family doing well?
A polite and slightly more personal way to say 'everyone in your family'. みなさん is a respectful 'everyone'.
Please give my regards to your whole family.
The whole family evacuated.
Formal/literary version of 家族揃って, meaning 'the whole household together'.
The whole family celebrated the New Year together.
The whole extended family gathered.
My whole family has a cold.
家族全員 is neutral and can be used in both speech and writing. 家族みんな is more casual and conversational. In formal writing or polite speech, 家族全員 is safer.
The whole family agreed. (polite)
The whole family agreed. (casual)