How to say "cousin" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounA male cousin, with no indication of age relative to the speaker. Usually written in kana alone, it is the everyday word to reach for when simply stating that someone is your cousin.
- 従兄じゅうけいnounSpecifically an older male cousin. This kanji spelling makes the older-male meaning explicit, so it suits contexts where that detail matters; for a general reference to a male cousin, いとこ is the usual choice.
Use 「いとこ」 for a male cousin in general; use 従兄 when you specifically need to say the cousin is an older male, typically in writing or formal reference.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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