How to say "clan" in Japanese

• クランCommon
  nounA loanword for 'clan', typically used for social groups in games or online communities. Choose this when referring to such organized player groups rather than traditional family lineages.
• 一味いちみCommon
  nounCovers 'clan' in the sense of a group of partisans, conspirators, or a gang. It carries a negative nuance, so it is a poor choice for a family clan; it really means a band of associates, often disreputable.
  「おい、だまれ。口数くちかずが多おおいぞ」とそのギャングの一味いちみが言いった。↗

  "Hey, you shut up! You talk too much," the gangster said.
• 輩やからCommon
  nounRefers to a party or set of people, sometimes rendered 'clan' or 'family'. It is a colloquial and often derogatory way to group people, so it is seldom the word you want for a kinship-based clan.
• 氏族しぞくCommon
  no-adjectiveThe word for a clan as a kinship group or lineage, covering the core 'clan' sense. Use this for family-based clans, such as those in historical or anthropological contexts.
• 一門いちもんCommon
  nounMeans a family, clan, or kin group, especially one sharing a common lineage. It suits the 'clan' sense focused on a family line and its related households.

For 'clan' in the sense of kinship group, use 氏族 or 一門; 「クラン」 covers the loanword sense; 一味 and 輩 refer to groups of people with negative or colloquial nuances, not family clans.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• クランclan
• 一味いちみclan
• 輩やからparty (of people)
• 氏族しぞくclan
• 一門いちもんfamily
• 閥ばつclique
• 閥族ばつぞくclan
• 閨閥けいばつclan
• 氏しclan
• 家中うちじゅうretainer of a daimyo
• 氏うじclan
• 姓氏せいしclan