Family Tree in Japanese: Relatives’ Names and Fun Matching Games
Talking about family is one of the first real-world conversations children can have in a new language. Creating a visual family tree and playing matching games makes Japanese kinship terms—like おかあさん (okāsan, mother) and いもうと (imōto, younger sister)—stick in young minds through hands-on fun.
Japanese Family Tree Vocabulary
Build your tree step by step, starting with the nuclear family, then adding extended relatives. Always say the term aloud and point to each picture.
Parents
おとうさん (otōsan, father)
おかあさん (okāsan, mother)
Siblings
おにいさん (onīsan, older brother)
おねえさん (onēsan, older sister)
おとうと (otōto, younger brother)
いもうと (imōto, younger sister)
Grandparents
おじいさん (ojīsan, grandfather)
おばあさん (obāsan, grandmother)
Extended Family
おじさん (ojisan, uncle)
おばさん (obasan, aunt)
いとこ (itoko, cousin)
Activities & Games
Family-Tree Craft
• Draw a large tree on poster board with blank branches.
• Print or draw photos/icons for each family member.
• Label each with its Japanese name.
• Have kids glue pictures in the right spot as they say each term: 「おじいさん」 (grandfather).
Match-the-Name Game
• Create two sets of cards: one with pictures, one with Japanese terms.
• Lay all cards face down.
• Children flip one picture and one word at a time, trying to match pairs.
• When they match 「いもうと」 with the little-sister picture, they keep the pair and repeat the word aloud.
Practice Corner
Keep a mini “Family Word Wall” in your living area. Each day, pick one relative—おねえさん or おばあさん—and challenge everyone to use that word at least five times in sentences or greetings.
After crafting and games, open Dinolingo for a quick family-theme quiz. A single family subscription unlocks 50+ languages and 40 000+ activities for up to six children. Age-specific paths—Pre-readers (2–5), Elementary (6–10), Tween/Teen (11–14)—serve animated videos, printable flashcards, and surprise badge rewards that echo your family-tree vocabulary, while parents track progress on an ad-free dashboard.
Final Thoughts
A colorful family tree and a round of matching games turn abstract terms into familiar names. Mix these hands-on activities with Dinolingo’s interactive follow-ups, and your child will soon introduce 「わたしのかぞく」 (my family) with pride and ease.
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