Japanese word

おじさん

Pronunciation

Romajiojisan

Meaning

  • noununcle

Example

私のおじさんは先生です。watashi no o ji sa n wa sen sei de su

My uncle is a teacher.

Illustration for おじさん (uncle)

More examples

夏休みにおじさんの家へ遊びに行きます。natsu yasu mi ni o ji sa n no ie e aso bi ni i ki ma su

During summer vacation, I will go to my uncle's house for a visit.

Core concept

A family term for a parent's brother also extends informally to a middle-aged man outside the family.

Common phrases

  • おじさんの家o ji sa n no ie

    uncle's house

  • おじさんに会うo ji sa n ni a u

    meet one's uncle

Similar words

おじoji: A parent's brother, used as a familiar family term.
おじちゃんojichan: A familiar term for an uncle or a middle-aged man, often used by children.
おじいさんojiisan: A male grandparent or an elderly man addressed in a respectful way.

Definition in Japanese

父母の兄弟に当たる男性を指す呼び名。また、親族でない中年男性へのくだけた呼び方。fu bo no kyō dai ni a ta ru dan sei o sa su yo bi na ma ta shin zoku de na i chū nen dan sei e no ku da ke ta yo bi kata

Word origin

The Japanese word おじさん (ojisan) combines おじ (oji, "uncle") with さん (san, "polite title").

Usage tips

  • English learners often distinguish おじさん (ojisan), "uncle" or "middle-aged man," from おじいさん (ojiisan), "grandfather" or "old man," which has a longer i sound.

Other meanings

  • middle-aged mannoun

Word lists with this word