How to say "descendant" in Japanese

• 子孫しそんJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe broad, neutral word for 'descendant' in the sense of progeny or offspring: the people who come from a person in later generations. Typical in genealogy, family history, and discussion of ancestors and their line.
  合衆国がっしゅうこくは長ながい間あいだ「るつぼ」として知しられているが、それは国民こくみんのほとんどが移民いみんの子孫しそんだからである。↗

  The United States has long been known as a "melting pot" because most of its people are descended from immigrants.
• 末裔まつえいCommon
  nounAlso 'descendant', but with the flavor of a family line continuing from a particular ancestor, often a famous or distinguished one. Typical when tracing descent from a historic figure or an old family.
• 後者こうしゃJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounDespite the glosses 'successor' and 'descendant', this is seldom the word you want for 'descendant': it normally means 'the latter', the second of two things just mentioned. Use 子孫 or 末裔 instead.

For descendants as progeny or offspring use 子孫; for descent along a family line, often from a notable ancestor, use 末裔; avoid 後者 for this meaning, since it normally means 'the latter'.

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

• 子孫しそんdescendant
• 末裔まつえいdescendant
• 後裔こうえいdescendant
• 末孫まっそんdescendant
• 後胤こういんdescendant
• 苗裔びょうえいdescendant
• 裔えいdescendant
• 下位グループかいグループdescendant
• 後葉こうようposterity
• 後者こうしゃsuccessor
• 末葉まつようdescendant
• 後あとdescendant