Japanese Lesson ; Family

Ok…in this session I’ll give you some vocabularies in Japanese family. Beside, I’ll also explain them as possible as I can ^.^

1. Chichi

Means ‘my father’. But if you wanna say ‘your father’, you should say ‘otousan’. And then, in calling your dad, you should say ‘otousan’ too. Because it will be sooooo weird if you call your dad with ‘chichi’. =D

Before World War II, father looked like very cruel, everybody must obedient to him, and he dominated the house. No body dared to argue him. Can you imagined that?

I’ve tried to imagine cruel face, big body, wrinkle in forehead, and no smile. But my imagine turned into something funny…Hahahha..

But after World War II and modernization came into Japan, because of American films, father’s function not as ‘cruel owner’ anymore, but turn into kid’s friend.

2. Haha

Means ‘my mother’. As description above, it just used to say ‘my mother’. If you wanna say ‘your mom’, you should say ‘okaasan’. It also used to call your own mom.

Mom in past time, long ago, was someone who must work very hard at home, and the husband wouldn’t wanted to help, that was the opinion which was dominated in that time. But now, mom can be career woman and the husband – now a day – want to help his wife.

3. Oneesan

Means ‘older sister’. You could change it with ‘oneechan’, either. It’s okay without ‘o’ (only neesan / neechan). But, another person’s older sister or someone older than you and you already close to her, you could say with ‘oneesan’ or ‘oneechan’. You could say it with including her name too, like “sakura neechan’.

Older sister – at home – was the second mother. She also help mom in cleaning house, cooking, take care of her younger sister/brother, etc.

4. Oniisan

Means ‘older brother’. The description same as above.

Older brother was the second father at home. He also help his father and have high responsibility in working. Maybe he knows he will be the next father in his own family ^^

5. Imouto

Means ‘younger sister’. You could add ‘san’ behind ‘imouto’ to say another person’s younger sister. But I’m sorry I don’t have much information about this. v_v

6. Otouto

Means ‘younger brother’. The explanation same as above. In many dorama or manga, otouto looks very close to his older brother. But I don’t know clearly.

7. Ojiisan

Means ‘grandfather’. Today, big part of Japanese people were old and become less of new generation. This problem is the biggest problem for Japan government.

After modernization, Japanese grandfather become ‘babysitter’ for their grandchild.

8. Obaasan

Means ‘grandmother’. Grandmother today also become babysitter for their grandchild.

9. Ojisan

Means ‘uncle’. Japanese also used this word to greet someone strange, for example, if you ask someone about how to get to building where your friend marriage party is, you should greet him with ‘ojiisan’.

10. Obaasan

Means ‘aunt’. This word also used to greet someone strange.

How to remember ojiisan-ojisan and obaasan-obasan easily??

I give you a simple advice. I bet you’ll get it.

Ojiisan and obaasan means granpa and grandma, they already have long age. Ojiisan and obaasan was voiced long in ‘i‘ and ‘a’. Because they have long age, so greeting words for them must long too ^^

The opposite occur in remembering ojisan-obasan

11. Akachan

Means ‘baby’. Aka means red, chan just addition. Why ‘baby’ in Japanese word using ‘red’? Because when the baby comes out from mother’s stomach, he/she come with blood and blood was red. ^^

For twins, it used “futago”.

If the kid ‘s age between 0-7 years old, the parents must spoiled the kid, because in Japanese belief, in that age, kids still God’s messenger. Because of it, everybody must not make a kids crying, sad, or something else. But must make kids happy.

12. Mago

Means ‘grandchild’. They often taken care by their grandfather or grandmother.

These are some of Japanese vocabulary in family side.

I’ll give you another vocabularies next… =)
hope it has advantages for you….