Japanese word

家族

Pronunciation

Romajikazoku

Meaning

  • nounfamily

Example

家族と一緒に住んでいます。ka zoku to is sho ni su n de i ma su

I live with my family.

Illustration for 家族 (family)

More examples

家族と公園へ行きます。ka zoku to kō en e i ki ma su

I go to the park with my family.

私は週末に家族と買い物に行きます。watashi wa shū matsu ni ka zoku to ka i mono ni i ki ma su

I go shopping with my family on weekends.

Core concept

Refers to people connected by close personal ties who are treated as one family unit.

Common phrases

  • 家族と暮らすka zoku to ku ra su

    live with one's family

  • 家族の一員ka zoku no ichi in

    a family member

  • 家族を大切にするka zoku o tai setsu ni su ru

    cherish one's family

  • 家族写真ka zoku sha shin

    family photo

  • 家族旅行ka zoku ryo kō

    family trip

Similar words

身内miuchi: Close relatives viewed as part of one's own family or group.
一家ikka: All the members of one family or household considered together.

Definition in Japanese

血縁や婚姻などで結び付いた人々の集まり。また、その人々から成る世帯。ketsu en ya kon in na do de musu bi tsu i ta hito bito no atsu ma ri ma ta so no hito bito ka ra na ru se tai

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 家族 (kazoku) combines 家 (ka, "house") with 族 (zoku, "group") to describe people linked as one household or family.

Usage tips

  • In everyday English, family can include relatives who live elsewhere, while the Japanese word often also refers to the people living together as one household.

Related words

  • 家族的kazokutekifamily-likena-adjective

Word lists with this word