Japanese word

家柄

Pronunciation

Romajiiegara

Meaning

  • nounfamily background

Example

彼は良い家柄の人です。kare wa yo i ie gara no hito de su

He is from a good family.

Illustration for 家柄 (family background)

More examples

採用では、家柄ではなく実力を重視します。sai yō de wa ie gara de wa na ku jitsu ryoku o jū shi shi ma su

In hiring, we value ability rather than family background.

Core concept

Describes the inherited family line and social standing that shape how a person's background is viewed.

Common phrases

  • 家柄の良いie gara no yo i

    of good family background

  • 家柄を重んじるie gara o omo n ji ru

    value family background

  • 家柄を問わずie gara o to wa zu

    regardless of family background

Similar words

家系kakei: The family line that connects a person to earlier generations.
血筋chisuji: The ancestry passed down through a family.

Definition in Japanese

先祖から受け継いだ家の系統や社会的な地位。sen zo ka ra u ke tsu i da ie no kei tō ya sha kai teki na chi i

Word origin

家柄 (iegara) combines 家 (ie, "house; family") and 柄 (gara, "character; standing"), giving the sense of a family's inherited character and social position.

Usage tips

  • 家柄 (iegara) sounds more formal and status-focused than simply asking about a person's family in everyday conversation.

Other meanings

  • lineagenoun
  • parentagenoun

Word lists with this word