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家族
kazoku
family
私の家族は4人です。
My family has four members.
formal
A group of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption, living together or considered as a unit.
家族の写真を飾っています。
I have a family photo displayed.
彼は家族を養わなければなりません。
He must support his family.
Can refer to immediate family or extended family depending on context.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish from 家庭
家族 emphasizes blood relations or legal ties, while 家庭 focuses on the household unit regardless of blood relations (e.g., a married couple without children is 家庭 but not 家族).
Gold Rule
Use in greetings
When introducing oneself, 家族 is often used to describe one's family members (e.g., 「家族は5人です」).
Word Origin
From kanji 家族 (family) + 族 (tribe/lineage). The kanji 家族 combines the meaning of 'home' (家) and 'tribe' (族), reflecting the traditional concept of a family unit as a lineage within a household.
Usage Notes
Used broadly to describe both immediate and extended family. In formal contexts, it may include relatives beyond the nuclear family. The term emphasizes kinship and social bonds rather than legal definitions.
Word Breakdown
家
house/home
root族
tribe/lineage
root和英辞典