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外戚 (がいせき) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

外がい戚せき

が

い

せ

き

Meanings

1

noun

maternal relative

Refers to relatives on one's mother's side, often used in historical or formal contexts.

彼かれは母はは方かたの外がい戚せきと疎そ遠えんになっている。
He has become estranged from his maternal relatives.

Kanji

外outside
戚grieve, relatives

Similar words

親しん戚せき
親戚 is the general term for 'relative', while 外戚 specifically denotes maternal relatives.
母はは方かた
母方 means 'mother's side' and is used attributively (e.g., 母方の親戚), whereas 外戚 is a noun meaning 'maternal relative'.

Etymology

Composed of 外 (outside, external) and 戚 (relative). The term reflects the traditional patrilineal view where maternal relatives were considered 'outside' the main family line.