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Japanese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "family" in Japanese?
家族
kazoku
In Japanese, "family" is 家族 (kazoku).
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Pronunciation
家族 is written using kanji. Romanised as kazoku, it sounds roughly like "kah-zoh-koo" to an English ear.
Writing and usage
Kazoku pairs 家 (house) with 族 (group/clan). A family is a group living under one roof, making this a logical compound.
Example sentence
家族はどこにありますか？
Kazoku wa doko ni arimasu ka?
Where is the family?
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How to remember 家族
House plus tribe equals family. Picture people gathered in a home together.
Related words
Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.
Questions about 家族
How do you pronounce 家族?
家族 is romanised as kazoku. Say it roughly like "kah-zoh-koo" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.
Is 家族 formal or casual?
家族 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.
How is 家族 written in Japanese?
家族 is written using kanji. Kazoku pairs 家 (house) with 族 (group/clan).
Where can I practice Japanese words for free?
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"Family" in other languages
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