戸籍

• Reading: こせき
• Romaji: koseki
• Kanji breakdown: 戸 (ko/to) — door, household, counter for houses; 籍 (seki) — register, record, membership
• Pronunciation: /ko.se.ki/

Meaning

Family register. Japan's official registry system that records births, marriages, deaths, and family relationships.

A noun referring to Japan's unique civil registration system that documents every citizen's family relationships, not just individual identity. Key compounds include 戸籍謄本 (koseki touhon, certified copy of family register) and 戸籍抄本 (koseki shouhon, partial extract). Required for marriage registration, passport applications, and various legal procedures. A distinctly Japanese institution that has been the subject of debate regarding privacy and discrimination.

Examples

1. 結婚届を出すのに戸籍謄本が必要だ。 You need a certified copy of the family register to submit a marriage registration.
2. パスポートの申請で戸籍抄本を取りに行った。 I went to get a family register extract for my passport application.
3. 戸籍の制度は明治時代から続いている。 The family register system has been in place since the Meiji era.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, government, marriage

Tone: formal

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 戸 (ko, door/household) + 籍 (seki, register/record). Literally 'household register' — an official record of family units identified by household.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal