1.
main family, head family, parent house
The main or senior branch of a family, as opposed to branch families. In traditional Japanese kinship, the eldest son's line forms the main house, while younger sons establish branch houses.
本家と分家の関係。
The relationship between the main family and a branch family.
正月には親戚が本家に集まる。
At New Year's, relatives gather at the main family's house.
祖父の代から続く本家は、今も田舎にある。
The main family home, which has continued since my grandfather's generation, is still in the countryside.
2.
originator, original, the real thing
The original or authentic source of something, as opposed to imitators or derivatives. Used colloquially to claim authenticity — e.g., 'the original ramen shop' or 'the birthplace of a certain dish.'
このラーメン屋が本家だ。
This ramen shop is the original.
本家本元の味を守っている。
They preserve the authentic original taste.
数多くの模倣店が出たが、やはり本家の味にはかなわない。
Many imitator shops appeared, but they still can't match the taste of the original.
USAGE:
Sense 1: In traditional Japanese family structure, the 本家 is the main household of a family line (typically the eldest son's house), while branch households are called 分家. The main family often keeps the family altar and is the center of family gatherings.
Sense 2: In everyday usage, 本家 often means "the original" or "the authentic one," especially for restaurants, recipes, or cultural practices. The emphatic form 本家本元 (the true original) reinforces authenticity.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 本家と分家: main family and branch family
- 本家本元: the true original
- 本家の味: the original's taste
- 本家筋: the main family line