Translation guide
The English word "descendants" refers to people who are related to you and live after you, such as children, grandchildren, and so on. In Japanese, the most common and natural way to express this concept depends on context, including formality and whether you are referring to your own descendants or those of someone else.
Referring to one's own children, grandchildren, and future generations in a neutral or personal context.
The most common and neutral word for 'descendants'. It can be used for one's own descendants or descendants in general.
自分の子孫に何を残せるだろうか。
What can I leave for my descendants?
Literally 'children and grandchildren', often used to refer to one's immediate descendants in a more concrete way.
子や孫に囲まれて幸せだ。
I'm happy surrounded by my children and grandchildren.
A more literary or formal term for 'descendants', often used in historical or genealogical contexts.
彼は武士の末裔だ。
He is a descendant of samurai.
Referring to the descendants of a particular ancestor, historical figure, or group.
Works for both one's own and others' descendants. Use with possessive or modifier.
彼の子孫は今もこの町に住んでいる。
His descendants still live in this town.
Often used for descendants of a notable lineage or historical figure.
Pattern: [person/group]の子孫. The most straightforward way to say 'descendants of ~'.
エジソンの子孫は発明家が多い。
Many of Edison's descendants are inventors.
Referring to people who will live in the future, often in a societal or environmental context.
Literally 'later generations', a common way to refer to future people without the biological nuance of 'descendants'.
後の世代のために環境を守らなければならない。
We must protect the environment for future generations.
Can also be used in a broader sense for humanity's descendants.
子孫に美しい地球を残したい。
I want to leave a beautiful Earth for our descendants.
More formal, often used in official or academic contexts.
この政策は将来の世代に影響を与える。
This policy will affect future generations.
Referring to lineal descendants in matters of succession, inheritance, or family registry.
Legal term for 'lineal descendants'. Used in family law and inheritance.
相続人は直系卑属である。
The heirs are the lineal descendants.
Shorter legal term for 'descendant' in family registry contexts.
戸籍には卑属が記載されている。
Descendants are recorded in the family register.
In everyday conversation, Japanese speakers rarely use a direct equivalent of 'descendants'. Instead, they might say 子ども (children) or 孫 (grandchildren) specifically, or use phrases like 後の世代 (future generations) when talking about posterity. Using 子孫 in casual chat about your own kids can sound overly formal or literary.
子孫 is the general term for descendants and can be used in most contexts. 末裔 carries a nuance of being the last descendants or the remnants of a lineage, often with historical or prestigious connotations. It is less common in everyday speech.
彼女は平家の末裔だと主張している。
She claims to be a descendant of the Taira clan.