遺族（いぞく、izoku）
- bereaved family

The Japanese word 遺族 (いぞく, izoku) refers to the surviving family members of a deceased person. This includes spouses, children, parents, and other relatives who were financially or emotionally dependent on the deceased. The term emphasizes the relationship to the deceased and highlights the shared experience of loss. It often implies a legal or social context, such as inheritance or bereavement.

⚫︎震災の遺族 Translation: The bereaved families of the earthquake. ⚫︎遺族に補償金が支払われた。 Translation: Compensation was paid to the bereaved families. ⚫︎事故の遺族は精神的なサポートが必要だ。 Translation: The bereaved families of the accident need emotional support.

This word is commonly used in formal or semi-formal contexts when discussing the death of someone and the impact on their family. It is often used in news reports, legal documents, and official communications related to death, accidents, disasters, or any situation where someone has passed away and their family is affected. You would use it to refer to the group of people who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

The word is typically written with the kanji 遺族. The reading is いぞく (izoku) in hiragana. There are no other standard ways to write this word or variations in the okurigana.

⚫︎遺された家族 (のこされたかぞく, nokosareta kazoku) - surviving family ⚫︎残された人々 (のこされたひとびと, nokosareta hitobito) - those left behind ⚫︎喪失者 (そうしつしゃ, soushitsusha) - bereaved (more formal)

There aren't direct antonyms for 遺族, as the concept is centered around the event of death. Words related to the deceased before their passing might be considered indirectly opposite.

彼は事故で亡くなり、奥さんと子供たちが遺族となった。 ・Translation: He died in an accident, and his wife and children became the bereaved family. ・Explanation: This sentence describes a situation where a person died in an accident and identifies their surviving family members as the 遺族.

その事件の遺族は、真実を求めて闘い続けている。 ・Translation: The bereaved families of that incident continue to fight for the truth. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights the ongoing struggle of the surviving family members to seek justice and answers after a tragic event.

The word 遺族 is composed of two kanji: 遺 (い, i) which means "to leave behind" or "to bequeath," and 族 (ぞく, zoku) which means "family" or "tribe." Therefore, the literal meaning is "family left behind" or "surviving family."