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    • #667
      ThiriHtetHtetLinn
      Participant

      Chinese Family tree Tutormandatin 1-on-1 chinese online lessons

      For many Chinese learners, family titles in Chinese are for sure a pain in the neck. It might rack your brain just trying to say “uncle” or “cousin” right. In Chinese, they give each family member a title. From your mother’s side to your father’s side, to each generation, and gender…etc. For this reason, Chinese family tree is unquestionably difficult. Today, we’ll make a list of most commonly used family titles. Don’t worry, here’s a small tip. (Just save this as a bookmark and pull it out to review right before Chinese new year dinner.)

      Great Grandparents/ Grandparents

      Father’s side –

      Great grandfather 曾祖父 zēngzǔfù

      Great grandmother 曾祖母zēngzǔmǔ

      Mother’s side –

      Great grandfather 曾外祖父 zēn wàigzǔfù

      Great grandmother 曾外祖母 zéng wàizǔmǔ

      Grandparents

      Father’s side –

      Grandfather 爷爷 yéye

      Grandmother 奶奶 nǎinai

      Mother’s side –

      Grandfather 外公 wàigōng

      Grandmother 外婆 wàipó

      Parents

      Father 父亲/ 爸爸/ 爹 fùqīn/ bàba/ diē

      Mother母亲/ 妈妈/ 娘 mǔqīn/ māmā/ niang

      Father in Law –

      Husband’s father 公公 gōnggōng

      Wife’s father岳父 yuèfù

      Mother in Law –

      Husband’s mother 婆婆 pópo

      Wife’s mother 岳母/ 丈母娘 yuèmǔ/ zhàngmǔniáng

      Uncle

      Father’s elder brother 伯父/ 伯伯 bófù/ bóbo

      Father’s younger brother 叔父/ 叔叔 shúfù/ shūshu

      Father’s sister’s husband (大/小) 姑丈(dà/xiǎo) gūzhàng

      Mother’s elder brother 大舅舅 dà jiùjiu

      Mother’s younger brother小舅舅 xiǎo jiùjiu

      Mother’s sister’s husband      (大/小) 姨丈(dà/xiǎo) yízhàng

      Father’s elder sister 大姑姑/ 姑妈 dà gūgū/ gūmā

      Father’s younger sister 小姑姑 xiǎo gūgū

      Father’s brother’s wife(大/小) 婶婶(dà/xiǎo) shěnshen

      Mother’s elder sister 大姨妈/大姨母/大阿姨 dà yímā/dà yímǔ/dà āyí

      Mother’s younger sister小姨妈/小姨母/小阿姨 xiǎo yímā/xiǎo yímǔ/xiǎo āyí

      Mother’s brother’s wife(大/小) 舅妈(dà/xiǎo) jiùmā

      Wife

      Husband 老公/ 丈夫/ 先生 lǎogōng/zhàngfū/xiānshēng

      Wife老婆/ 妻子/太太lǎopó/ qīzi/ tàitài

      Siblings

      Siblings 兄弟姊妹 xiōngdì zǐmè

      Older brother 哥哥/ 大哥/ 老哥 gēgē/ dàgē/ lǎo gē

      Younger brother 弟弟/ 小弟/ 老弟dìdì/ xiǎodì/ lǎodì

      Older sister 姊姊/ 大姊/ 老姊 jiě jie/ dà zǐ/ lǎo zǐ

      Younger sister 妹妹/ 小妹/ 老妹 mèi mei/ xiǎo mèi/ lǎo mèi

      Brother in law 姊夫/ 妹夫jiě fū/ mèifu

      Sister in law 嫂子/ 弟妹sǎozi/ dìmèi

      Father’s side –

      Cousin 堂哥/ 堂弟/ 堂姊/ 堂妹táng gē/ táng dì/ táng zǐ/ táng mèi

      Mother’s side –

      Cousin 表哥/ 表弟/ 表姊/ 表妹biǎo gē/ biǎo dì/ biǎo zǐ/ biǎomèi

      Nephew 姪子/外甥zhí zi/wàishēng

      Niece 姪女/外甥女zhí nǚ/wàishēngnǚ

      Son/ Daughter

      Son 儿子érzi

      Daughter 女儿nǚ’ér

      Son in law 女婿 nǚxù

      Daughter in law 媳妇 xífù

      Grandchildren

      Grandson 孙子sūnziGranddaughter孙女sūnnǚ

      As can be seen, Chinese people values a lot in family relationships and roles. Every person in the family has their own title as they’re a part of the family member. Then again, it might be confusing for a non-native Chinese speaker to memorize every title of the Chinese family tree. Just start from the basics, like parents, siblings, and cousins. I’m sure after a few Christmas/ Chinese new year dinner, you’ll stick all those complicated titles in your head!

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