Speaking • Social Situations
Family Vocabulary and Phrases in Mandarin Chinese
Chinese family terminology is one of the most elaborate in the world — distinguishing not just father/mother but paternal grandparents from maternal grandparents, older siblings from younger ones, and cousins by which side they come from. Understanding this system is essential for any serious learner and deeply impresses Chinese speakers.
Immediate Family Terms
| 汉字 Chinese | 拼音 Pīnyīn | English |
|---|---|---|
爸爸 / 父亲 | bàba / fùqīn | Dad (casual) / Father (formal) |
妈妈 / 母亲 | māma / mǔqīn | Mum (casual) / Mother (formal) |
哥哥 | gēge | Older brother |
弟弟 | dìdi | Younger brother |
姐姐 | jiějie | Older sister |
妹妹 | mèimei | Younger sister |
儿子 | érzi | Son |
女儿 | nǚ'ér | Daughter |
丈夫 / 老公 | zhàngfu / lǎogōng | Husband (formal / casual) |
妻子 / 老婆 | qīzi / lǎopó | Wife (formal / casual) |
Extended Family
| 汉字 Chinese | 拼音 Pīnyīn | English |
|---|---|---|
爷爷 | yéye | Paternal grandfather (father's father) |
奶奶 | nǎinai | Paternal grandmother (father's mother) |
外公 / 姥爷 | wàigōng / lǎoye | Maternal grandfather (mother's father) |
外婆 / 姥姥 | wàipó / lǎolao | Maternal grandmother (mother's mother) |
叔叔 | shūshu | Paternal uncle (father's younger brother) |
伯伯 | bóbo | Paternal uncle (father's older brother) |
阿姨 | āyí | Maternal aunt (mother's sister) — also used for any adult woman |
舅舅 | jiùjiu | Maternal uncle (mother's brother) |
表兄弟 / 表姐妹 | biǎo xiōngdì / biǎo jiěmèi | Cousins (maternal side or cross-cousins) |
堂兄弟 / 堂姐妹 | táng xiōngdì / táng jiěmèi | Cousins (paternal side, same surname) |
Talking About Family Members
| 汉字 Chinese | 拼音 Pīnyīn | English |
|---|---|---|
你家有几口人？ | nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén? | How many people are in your family? |
我家有四口人。 | wǒ jiā yǒu sì kǒu rén. | There are four people in my family. |
我有一个哥哥和一个妹妹。 | wǒ yǒu yī gè gēge hé yī gè mèimei. | I have one older brother and one younger sister. |
我是独生子/独生女。 | wǒ shì dúshēng zǐ / dúshēng nǚ. | I am an only child. (son / daughter form) |
我父母住在…… | wǒ fùmǔ zhù zài…… | My parents live in… |
我们一家感情很好。 | wǒmen yījiā gǎnqíng hěn hǎo. | Our family has a very close/warm relationship. |
孩子多大了？ | háizi duō dà le? | How old is your child? |
我孩子今年五岁。 | wǒ háizi jīnnián wǔ suì. | My child is five years old this year. |
Family Relationship Vocabulary
| 汉字 Chinese | 拼音 Pīnyīn | English |
|---|---|---|
家人 / 家属 | jiārén / jiāshǔ | Family members / Family dependents |
亲戚 | qīnqi | Relatives (extended family) |
父母 | fùmǔ | Parents |
兄弟姐妹 | xiōngdì jiěmèi | Siblings (brothers and sisters) |
孩子 / 小孩 | háizi / xiǎohái | Children / Child |
孙子 / 孙女 | sūnzi / sūnnǚ | Grandson / Granddaughter (paternal) |
外孙 / 外孙女 | wàisūn / wàisūnnǚ | Grandson / Granddaughter (maternal) |
岳父 / 岳母 | yuèfù / yuèmǔ | Father-in-law / Mother-in-law (wife's parents) |
公公 / 婆婆 | gōnggong / pópo | Father-in-law / Mother-in-law (husband's parents) |
Usage Notes
Chinese has no single word for 'sibling' — you must specify older/younger AND gender. 哥哥 (older brother), 弟弟 (younger brother), 姐姐 (older sister), 妹妹 (younger sister). Saying simply 我有一个兄弟 is understood but sounds incomplete to native ears.
Chinese grandparents are addressed differently depending on which side they are on. 爷爷/奶奶 = paternal (father's parents). 外公/外婆 = maternal (mother's parents). 外 means 'outside/other', reflecting the traditional view of the mother's family being the outside family.
When counting family members, use the measure word 口 (kǒu, lit. mouth): 我家有三口人 (my family has three people). 口 specifically emphasises the number of mouths to feed in a household — a more intimate and traditional phrasing than using 个.
Chinese often uses family terms to address non-relatives. 阿姨 (auntie) is used for any adult woman. 叔叔 (uncle) for any adult man. 大哥/大姐 (big brother/sister) for someone a bit older. This extends the family framework to all social relationships.