親 族(しんぞく)

しんぞく

noun

relatives, kin, kinfolk

1. relatives, kin, kinfolk

People related by blood or marriage. A somewhat formal term that encompasses a broader range of family connections than immediate family, including extended relatives such as cousins, aunts, uncles, and in-laws.

親族(しんぞく)が集(あつ)まった。

The relatives gathered.

結婚式(けっこんしき)には親族(しんぞく)だけを招待(しょうたい)した。

We invited only relatives to the wedding.

遠(とお)い親族(しんぞく)から突然(とつぜん)連絡(れんらく)が来(き)て驚(おどろ)いた。

I was surprised to receive a sudden contact from a distant relative.

Common collocations

親族(しんぞく)関係(かんけい): family/kinship relations
親族(しんぞく)一同(いちどう): all the relatives
遠(とお)い親族(しんぞく): distant relative
近(ちか)い親族(しんぞく): close relative
親族(しんぞく)会議(かいぎ): family council

Similar words

親戚(しんせき): relatives (more colloquial and commonly used in daily conversation)
身内(みうち): family, one's own people (informal, includes close associates)
一族(いちぞく): clan, whole family (emphasizes the group as a unit)

Usage

親族(しんぞく) is more formal than 親戚(しんせき) and is preferred in legal, official, and ceremonial contexts such as funerals, weddings, and legal documents. In casual conversation, 親戚(しんせき) is more natural.

Related Words

Synonym: 親戚(しんせき) (relatives (colloquial))

Compare: 身内(みうち) (family, one's own people)

Compare: 一族(いちぞく) (clan, whole family)

Compare: 親類(しんるい) (relatives, kin)

general

Added 2026.2.28 11:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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