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14. Extended Family

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お母さんは元気ですか
Is your mother well?
はい、母は元気です
Yes, she's well
母は先生です
My mother is a teacher
お父さんも先生ですか
Is your father a teacher too?
いいえ、父は先生じゃないです
No, my father isn't a teacher
お兄さんはいますか
Do you have an older brother?
はい、兄がいます
Yes, I have an older brother
兄は日本語が好きです
He likes Japanese
おじいさんは元気ですか
Is your grandfather well?
はい、元気です
Yes, he's well
おばあさんも元気です
My grandmother is well too
お姉さんもいますか
Do you have an older sister too?
姉がいます
I have an older sister
姉は英語が好きです
She likes English
弟もいます
I also have a younger brother
子供はいますか
Do you have children?
はい、息子がいます
Yes, I have a son
息子は学生です
My son is a student
おじいさんは元気ですか
Is your grandfather well?
はい、元気です
Yes, he's well
おばあさんも元気です
My grandmother is well too
娘も学生ですか
Is your daughter a student too?
いいえ、娘は学生じゃないです
No, my daughter isn't a student

Cultural Notes

Two sets of family words

Japanese has separate words for your own family and someone else's family. When talking about your own father, you say 父 (chichi). When asking about someone else's father, you say お父さん (otousan). The お...さん version sounds more polite and respectful -- you always use it for other people's families.

息子 and 娘 are humble

息子 (musuko) and 娘 (musume) are specifically for talking about your own son or daughter. Using these words signals "this is my child" without needing to say 私の every time. If you are talking about someone else's son or daughter, you would use 息子さん (musukosan) or 娘さん (musumesan) instead.

Grandparents in everyday life

おじいさん and おばあさん are not just for your friend's grandparents. Japanese people also use them to politely address any elderly man or woman they meet in public, like at a shop or on the street. It is a warm, respectful way to speak to older people you do not know.