kazoku (family)kodomo/okosan (child [plain/polite])chichi/otōsan (father [plain/polite])haha/okāsan (mother [plain/polite])musuko/musukosan (son [plain/polite])musume/musumesan (daughter [plain/polite])ani/onīsan (older brother [plain/polite])otōto/otōtosan (younger brother [plain/polite])ane/onēsan (older sister [plain/polite])imōto/imōtosan (younger sister [plain/polite])

otoko no hito (man)otto/goshujin (husband)onna no hito (woman)tsuma/okusan (wife)otoko no ko (boy)onna no ko (girl)tomodachi (friend)

•In conversations, shujin is often used instead of otto to refer to one’s own husband, and kanai is often used instead of tsuma to refer to one’s own wife. However, when wives are talking to their husbands, they often address them with anata, which literally means "you," but actually means something like "honey" or "dear" in English.•Use the plain form to refer to your

own family members in front of others. Use the polite form to refer to someone else’s family members. For example, "my father" would be watashi no chichi and "Ms. Yamada’s father" would be Yamada-san no otōsan. And "My father met Ms. Yamada’s father" would be Watashi no chichi wa Yamada-san no otōsan ni aimashita.

Watashi (I)anata (you [singular])kare (he)kanojo (she)watashi-tachi (we)anata-tachi (you [plural])karera (they [M])kanojora (they [F])karera (they [M, F, or mixed group])

When meeting people in Japan, be sure to use the appropriate formal title. San is the most commonly used respectful title placed someone's first or last name, regardless of their gender or marital status. Sama is a more formal respectful title — use it after the family names of your clients, customers, or those to whom respect is due.san (a polite/neutral respectful title)Sumisu-san (Mr. Smith)Maikeru-san (Michael)Tanaka-san (Ms. Tanaka)Sandora-san (Sandra)sama (formal respectful title)Sumisu-sama (Mr. Smith)Tanaka-sama (Ms. Tanaka)Place a respectful title after the other people’s names, but not after your own name.

o-kane (money)genkin (cash)kurejitto kâdo (credit card)takai (expensive)ôkii desu (big; tall; large)genka (price)chîsai desu (small)kaban (bag)

mise (store)Shobou (bookstore)Doraggusutoa (drugstore)Konbini (convenience store)Disukauntosutoa (discount store)depâto (department store)sôpâmâketto (supermarket)kanbutsuya (grocery store)

kôhî (kohh-heee) (coffee)gyûnyû (gyooo-nyooo) (milk)bîru (beee-roo) (beer)wain (wah-een) (wine)o-kome (oh-koh-meh) (uncooked rice)niku (nee-koo) (meat)butaniku (boo-tah-nee-koo) (pork)toriniku (toh-ree-nee-koo) (chicken)sakana (sah-kah-nah) (fish)tamago (eggs)yasai (yah-sah-ee) (vegetables)kudamono (koo-dah-moh-noh) (fruit)pan (pahn) (bread)

wanpîsu (wahn-peee-soo) (dress)bôshi (bohh-shee) (hat)shatsu (shah-tsoo) (shirt)burausu (boo-rah-oo-soo) (blouse)sûtsu (sooo-tsoo) suitjînzu (jeeen-zoo) (jeans)zubon (zoo-bohn) pantssçtâ (sehh-tahh) sweaterjaketto (jah-keht-toh) jacketkutsu (koo-tsoo) shoe

kuroi desu (black)aoi desu (blue)akai desu (red)shiroi desu (white)kiiroi desu (yellow)midori (green)