Japanese Vocabulary: Relatives and Acquaintances

• The study notes cover vocabulary related to relatives, friends, and acquaintances.

Relatives and Family

• 親類 (shinrui): Relatives
• 親族 (shinzoku): Kin, relatives, or members of the family
• 親戚 (shinseki): Relatives
• 祖先 (sosen): Ancestors
• 子孫 (shison): Descendants
• 祖父母 (sofubo): Grandparents
• 孫 (mago): Grandchild
• 三世代 (san sedai): Three generations
• 一家 (ikka): A household or family
• 集まり (atsumari): Gathering
• 親孝行 (oyakoukou): Filial piety, taking care of one's parents
• 実家 (jikka): One's parents' home
• 懐かしい (natsukashii): Nostalgic
• 姉妹 (shimai): Sisters
• 末っ子 (suekko): Youngest child
• 一人っ子 (hitorikko): Only child
• 双子 (futago): Twins
• 仲良し (nakayoshi): Close friends, intimate

Acquaintances

• 仲間 (nakama): Companion, friend, or colleague.
• 知人 (chijin): Acquaintance
• 知り合い (shiriai): Acquaintance
• 奥様 (okusama): (Someone else's) wife (polite)
• お母様 (okāsama): (Someone else's) mother
• お父様 (otousama): (Someone else's) father
• お嬢さん (ojōsan): (Someone else's) daughter (polite) or a young lady.
• お坊ちゃん (obocchan): (Someone else's) son (polite)
• ~ (ご)夫妻 (~ (go) fusai): Mr. and Mrs. ..., used with names or titles.
• 夫人 ( fujin): Mrs. (attached to a name)
• 職場 (shokuba): Workplace
• 上司 (jōshi): Boss, one's superiors
• 部下 (buka): Subordinate
• バイト先 (baito saki): Part-time workplace
• 目上の人 (meue no hito): Superiors
• 目下の人 (meshita no hito): Subordinates
• 年上の人 (toshiue no hito): Older people
• 年下の人 (toshishita no hito): Younger people
• 同い年の人 (onaidoshi no hito): People of the same age, contemporaries
• 周囲の人々 (shūi no hitobito): People in the surroundings
• 親しい (shitashii): Intimate when used for friends

Relationships

• 付き合い (tsukiai): Association, socialization, or relationship.
• コミュニケーション (komyunikēshon): Communication
• 約束を守る (yakusoku o mamoru): To keep a promise
• 約束を破る (yakusoku o yaburu): Break the promise
• 約束を取り消す (yakusoku o torikesu): To cancel an appointment
• 言葉遣い (kotobazukai): Speech or expression
• 心遣い (kokorozukai): Consideration, attention to the needs of others
• 気遣い (kidzukai): Consideration; concern for others

Interactions

• 金遣いが荒い (kanezukai ga arai): To be wasteful with money/spending habits.
• 握手する (akushu suru): To shake hands
• お辞儀する (ojigi suru): To bow
• 取り替える (torikaeru): To exchange, replace

Miscellaneous

• 長年 (nagane): For many years
• たとえ〜ても (tatoe ~te mo): Even if
• ちっとも〜ない (chittomo ~nai): Not at all
• まるで (~ようだ) (marude (~yōda)): Just like
• ドタキャンする (dotakyan suru): To cancel at the lat minute
• 家族全体 (kazoku zentai): Whole family
• 飲み仲間 (nomi nakama): Drinking buddies
• 仕事仲間 (shigoto nakama): Workmate doing the same job
• 勉強仲間 (benkyō nakama): Study buddy doing the same subject
• 若い世代 (wakai sedai): Younger generation