How to address Family Members in Chinese

Family relations can reach out over several generations and through many extensions. English terms for family members only consider two factors: generation and gender. While in English, there is only one way to say “aunt,” for example, there are multiple ways to say “aunt” in Chinese depending on many factors.

Is she your aunt on your mother’s or father’s side? Is she the eldest sibling? The youngest? Is she an aunt by blood or an in-law? All these questions are considered when figuring out the proper way to address a family member. Therefore, a family member’s title is packed with lots of information!

In Chinese culture, it is important to know how to correctly address a family member. Calling a family member by the wrong title can be considered impolite.

Here is a list of Mandarin Chinese names of extended family members:

Grandparents’ Generation:

Father’s father 爷爷 yéye
Father’s mother 奶奶 nǎinai
Mother’s father 外公 wàigōng
Mother’s mother 外婆 wàipó

 

Parents’ Generation:

 

Father

爸爸 bàba
Father’s elder brother 伯伯 bóbo
Father’s younger brother 叔叔 shūshu
Father’s (elder/younger) sister 姑姑 gūgu
Mother 妈妈 māma
Mother’s (elder/younger) brother 舅舅 jiùjiu
Mother’s (elder/younger) sister 姨妈 yímā

 

Your Generation:

 

Elder brother

哥哥 gēge
Younger brother 弟弟 dìdi
Elder sister 姐姐 jiějie
Younger sister 妹妹 mèimei

 

Children’s Generation:

 

Son

儿子 érzi
Son’s wife 媳妇 xífù
Daughter 女儿 nǚ’ér
Daughter’s husband 女婿 nǚxù

 

Grandchildren’s Generation:

 

Grandson

孙子 sūnzi
Grandson’s wife 孙媳妇 sūnxífù
Granddaughter 孙女 sūnnǚ
Granddaughter’s husband 孙女婿 sūnnǚxù

 

 


Post time: Feb-17-2020