Lesson L9N3N3 Vocabulary — Thematic Sets⏱ 25 min

Relationships and Family Vocabulary

This lesson introduces key N3 kanji and readings related to family and relationships, such as 家族 (かぞく), 親戚 (しんせき), 義理 (ぎり) compounds, and terms for marital and social connections. Practice using these words in context through example sentences and exercises.

🎯 Goal: Learn N3 vocabulary related to relationships and family.

Lesson Content

Learning Goal

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to recognize and use 20 N3-level vocabulary words related to relationships, family, and social roles. You'll understand how these words connect to everyday situations and be able to use them in simple sentences.

Concept

In Japanese, vocabulary about relationships and family often overlaps with words about society, education, and personal connections. Many of these words share kanji roots, making them easier to remember as a group. For example, the kanji 教 (kyou) appears in words about teaching and learning, while 政 (sei) appears in words about government and politics.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. Family and Personal Relationships

Word	Reading	Meaning	Example
故郷	こきょう (kokyou)	hometown, birthplace	私の故郷は京都です。 (Watashi no kokyou wa Kyoto desu.) - My hometown is Kyoto.
敵	てき (teki)	opponent, rival	彼は私の敵ではない。 (Kare wa watashi no teki de wa nai.) - He is not my enemy.
敬意	けいい (keii)	respect, honor	彼に敬意を表します。 (Kare ni keii o hyoushimasu.) - I express respect to him.

2. Education and Teaching

Word	Reading	Meaning	Example
教師	きょうし (kyoushi)	teacher (classroom)	彼女は小学校の教師です。 (Kanojo wa shougakkou no kyoushi desu.) - She is an elementary school teacher.
教授	きょうじゅ (kyouju)	professor	大学の教授に会いました。 (Daigaku no kyouju ni aimashita.) - I met a university professor.
教科書	きょうかしょ (kyoukasho)	textbook	新しい教科書を買いました。 (Atarashii kyoukasho o kaimashita.) - I bought a new textbook.

3. Numbers and Counting

Word	Reading	Meaning	Example
数	かず (kazu)	number	数が多いです。 (Kazu ga ooi desu.) - There are many numbers.
数える	かぞえる (kazoeru)	to count	お金を数えてください。 (Okane o kazoete kudasai.) - Please count the money.
数字	すうじ (suuji)	numeral, figure, digit	この数字は何ですか？ (Kono suuji wa nan desu ka?) - What is this number?

4. Society and Government

Word	Reading	Meaning	Example
政府	せいふ (seifu)	government, administration	政府の政策が変わりました。 (Seifu no seisaku ga kawarimashita.) - The government's policy changed.
政治家	せいじか (seijika)	politician, statesman	彼は有名な政治家です。 (Kare wa yuumei na seijika desu.) - He is a famous politician.

5. Actions and States

Word	Reading	Meaning	Example
改善	かいぜん (kaizen)	improvement	状況が改善しました。 (Joukyou ga kaizen shimashita.) - The situation improved.
改札	かいさつ (kaisatsu)	ticket gate, ticket barrier	改札で待っています。 (Kaisatsu de matteimasu.) - I'm waiting at the ticket gate.
攻撃	こうげき (kougeki)	attack, strike	敵の攻撃を防ぎました。 (Teki no kougeki o fusegimashita.) - I blocked the enemy's attack.
放す	はなす (hanasu)	to release, to let go	鳥を放しました。 (Tori o hanashimashita.) - I released the bird.
放題	ほうだい (houdai)	to one's heart's content	食べ放題のレストランに行きました。 (Tabehoudai no resutoran ni ikimashita.) - I went to an all-you-can-eat restaurant.
救う	すくう (sukuu)	to rescue from	彼は人を救いました。 (Kare wa hito o sukuimashita.) - He rescued a person.
救助	きゅうじょ (kyuujo)	relief, aid	救助隊が来ました。 (Kyuujotai ga kimashita.) - The rescue team came.
整理	せいり (seiri)	sorting, arrangement	部屋を整理しました。 (Heya o seiri shimashita.) - I organized the room.
文	ぶん (bun)	sentence	この文は難しいです。 (Kono bun wa muzukashii desu.) - This sentence is difficult.

Mini Examples

Example 1: 故郷の教師が私を救った。 (Kokyou no kyoushi ga watashi o sukutta.) - My hometown teacher rescued me.

Example 2: 政府の政治家が数字を数えた。 (Seifu no seijika ga suuji o kazoeta.) - The government politician counted the numbers.

Example 3: 教科書を整理してから、敬意を表した。 (Kyoukasho o seiri shite kara, keii o hyoushita.) - After organizing the textbooks, I showed respect.

Common Mistake

Mistake: Confusing 教師 (kyoushi - teacher) with 教授 (kyouju - professor). Remember: 教師 is for any classroom teacher, while 教授 is specifically a university professor.

Mistake: Mixing up 放す (hanasu - to release) with 話す (hanasu - to speak). They sound the same but have different kanji and meanings. 放す uses the kanji for "release" (放), while 話す uses the kanji for "speak" (話).

Quick Practice

Fill in the blank: 私の___ (hometown) は東京です。
Answer: 故郷 (こきょう)
Fill in the blank: この___ (sentence) を読んでください。
Answer: 文 (ぶん)
Match the word to its meaning:
- 攻撃 → a) improvement
- 改善 → b) attack
- 救助 → c) relief
  Answers: 攻撃 = b, 改善 = a, 救助 = c

Summary and Next Step

You've learned 20 N3 vocabulary words related to relationships, family, and society. Key takeaways:

Many words share kanji roots (教 for teaching, 政 for government)
Pay attention to similar-sounding words (放す vs 話す)
Context helps distinguish meanings (教師 vs 教授)

Next Step: Practice using these words in sentences about your own life. Try writing 3 sentences about your hometown, your teachers, or your daily activities using the vocabulary from this lesson.