ご家族は何人ですか
gokazoku wa nannin desu ka
The English phrase "who is in your family" is expressed in Japanese as ご家族は何人ですか (gokazoku wa nannin desu ka).
Despite the English translation 'who is in your family', this Japanese phrase is used to ask for the total number of family members.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ご家族は何人ですか literally translates to "As for your family, how many people are there?"
How do you pronounce it?
gokazoku wa nannin desu ka
Did you know?
- When answering this question, you must never use the honorific ご (go) for your own family, even if you are being very polite to the listener. Using it for your own family sounds like you are actually praising your own kin.
- The word 家族 meaning 'family' is a compound of 家 meaning 'house' and 族 meaning 'tribe'.
- When counting people in a family, the counter 人 (nin) changes its pronunciation for one or two. For 'one person', you say 一人 (hitori) and for 'two people', you say 二人 (futari).
Examples in context
- ご家族は何人ですか。Gokazoku wa nannin desu ka.How many people are in your family?
- 失礼ですが、ご家族は何人ですか。Shitsurei desu ga, gokazoku wa nannin desu ka.Excuse me, but how many people are in your family?
- 田中さん、ご家族は何人ですか。Tanaka-san, gokazoku wa nannin desu ka.Mr. Tanaka, how many people are in your family?
Example conversation
Two acquaintances are chatting during a break at a cafe.
- 陽葵 Himari健太さんは、ご家族は何人ですか。Kenta-san wa, gokazoku wa nannin desu ka.Kenta, how many people are in your family?
- 健太 Kenta四人です。両親と姉がいます。Yonin desu. Ryoushin to ane ga imasu.Four people. There are my parents and an older sister.
- 陽葵 Himariそうなんですね。仲が良さそうですね。Sou nan desu ne. Naka ga yosasou desu ne.I see. It sounds like you get along well.
- 健太 Kentaはい、とても賑やかですよ。Hai, totemo nigiyaka desu yo.Yes, it is very lively.
