Japanese word

家系

Pronunciation

Romajikakei

Meaning

  • nounancestry

Example

祖父は私たちの家系について話しました。so fu wa watashi ta chi no ka kei ni tsu i te hana shi ma shi ta

My grandfather talked about our ancestry.

Illustration for 家系 (ancestry)

More examples

母は古い記録を使って、自分の家系を調べました。haha wa furu i ki roku o tsuka tte ji bun no ka kei o shira be ma shi ta

My mother researched her ancestry using old records.

Core concept

Centers on the connected line of family members and ancestors that carries a person's origin across generations.

Common phrases

  • 家系を調べるka kei o shira be ru

    research one's ancestry

  • 家系をたどるka kei o ta do ru

    trace one's ancestry

Similar words

血筋chisuji: The family line formed through biological descent from earlier generations.
血統kettō: Biological descent through a particular family line, especially when inherited traits matter.
系譜keifu: A documented line of descent through successive generations.

Definition in Japanese

先祖から子孫へと続く、血縁による家族のつながり。sen zo ka ra shi son e to tsuzu ku ketsu en ni yo ru ka zoku no tsu na ga ri

Word origin

家 (ka, "house or family") + 系 (kei, "line or lineage") forms 家系 (kakei), meaning a family line traced through generations.

Usage tips

  • The Japanese word 家系 (kakei) usually points to a family's line across generations, while English ancestry can also mean a person's broader ethnic or genetic background.

Word lists with this word