1.
large family; big family; extended family
A family with many members, either due to many children or multiple generations living together. Often contrasted with the nuclear family model that became dominant in postwar Japan.
うちは大家族だ。
My family is a big one.
大家族で食卓を囲むのは楽しい。
It's fun to gather around the table with a large family.
昔は三世代が一緒に暮らす大家族が多かった。
In the past, there were many large families with three generations living together.
In Japan, 大家族 was the traditional household structure, with grandparents, parents, and children under one roof. Postwar urbanization led to a shift toward 核家族 (nuclear families). Today, 大家族 is sometimes featured in TV shows and is viewed with a mix of nostalgia and curiosity.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 大家族で暮らす: to live as a large family
- 大家族向け: designed for large families
- 大家族の食費: food expenses for a large family
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 核家族: nuclear family — parents and children only; the opposite pattern
- 小家族: small family — few family members
- 家族: family — the general term, neutral regarding size