Family Members in Chinese – Everyday Chinese for Family
Family is the core of Chinese culture. It is common to see grandparents live with their children in the same household. Taking care of one’s aging parents is what adult children do in Chinese society. That is what Chinese people refer to as filial piety 孝. In a family social gathering, relatives can tell if a child is from the father’s family or the mother’s family by how a child calls his or her aunt or uncle.
Therefore it is important to understand how to properly address different people. And, there is a general way to call a person when you first introduce to a relative who you have not met before. This is something fun. Chinese people learn about the titles of their family members 家人 as they get to know more of their relatives. So let’s start with the basic ones.
Family Members in Chinese: Use family reunion pictures for practice!
Who is this? Zhè shì shuí? 這是誰？
This is… Zhè shì… 這是…
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Dad bàba 爸爸
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Mom māmā 媽媽
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older brother gēge 哥哥
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older sister jiě jie 姊姊
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younger brother dìdì 弟弟
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younger sister mèimei 妹妹
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uncle (general title for a young man at one’s parents’ generation; also father’s brother) shūshu 叔叔
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aunt (general title for a woman in one’s parents’ generation; also used for caregiver) āyí 阿姨
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Grandma from Dad’s side nǎinai 奶奶
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Grandpa from Dad’s side yéyé 爺爺
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Grandma from Mom’s side wàigōng 外公
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Grandma from Dad’s side wàipó 外婆
The word, “family” in Chinese is 家. This is a fun Chinese character. On top, you see the roof 宀 and under the roof, you see a pig 豕. So, when there is a pig under the roof you have a home and a family. 家 is home, house, and family in Chinese.
Who are the top three relatives your child always talks to on the phone or on the video call? How does your child address them in Chinese?
Family Members in Chinese – Everyday Chinese for Family