身内(みうち)

みうち
noun
one's relatives; inner circle
familysociety
1. one's relatives; family members
Close family members and relatives. Broader than immediate family but implies a personal, blood-related connection.
身内(みうち)だけの式(しき)にした。
We held a ceremony for family only.
身内(みうち)に医者(いしゃ)がいると心強(こころづよ)い。
It's reassuring to have a doctor in the family.
急(きゅう)な知(し)らせを受(う)けて、身内(みうち)が病院(びょういん)に駆(か)けつけた。
After receiving the sudden news, family members rushed to the hospital.
2. inner circle; one's own people
People within the same group, organization, or faction. Used to distinguish insiders from outsiders.
身内(みうち)の不祥事(ふしょうじ)だ。
It's a scandal within our own ranks.
身内(みうち)に甘(あま)いと批判(ひはん)された。
They were criticized for being lenient with their own people.
警察(けいさつ)が身内(みうち)の不正(ふせい)を調査(ちょうさ)するのは難(むずか)しいと言(い)われている。
It is said to be difficult for the police to investigate wrongdoing within their own ranks.

Sense 1 refers to blood relatives and close family. Sense 2 extends to organizational insiders, often used in news reporting about internal misconduct.

Common collocations

In sense 2, 身内(みうち) often carries a critical nuance, implying favoritism or cover-ups within a group.

Related Words

Related: 家族(かぞく) (family)
Compare: 親戚(しんせき) (relative, relation)
Compare: 親類(しんるい) (relatives, kin)
Compare: 親族(しんぞく) (relatives, kin, kinfolk)
Compare: 縁者(えんじゃ) (relatives)
general
Added 2026.2.28 19:55 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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