Family in Chinese: 51 Key Chinese Family Vocabulary Terms
The significance of family in Chinese culture cannot be overstated. Filial piety is a cornerstone of this culture, and its influence remains strong in modern Chinese society.
Using respectful terms for elders and discussing family ties are essential parts of everyday conversation. The 51 terms provided here will help you understand the intricate web of family relationships in the Chinese language.
Immediate Family Members
Before exploring terms for in-laws and relatives from the mother's or father's side, here are the eight most fundamental family terms to learn. Commit these to memory first!
- 父亲 (fù qīn) — Father
- 母亲 (mǔ qīn) — Mother
- 儿子 (ér zi) — Son
- 女儿 (nǚ ér) — Daughter
- 丈夫 (zhàng fu) — Husband
- 妻子 (qī zi) — Wife
- 兄弟 (xiōng dì) — Brother
- 姐妹 (jiě mèi) — Sister
Extended Family Members
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 祖父 | zǔ fù | Grandfather (paternal) |
| 祖母 | zǔ mǔ | Grandmother (paternal) |
| 外祖父 | wài zǔ fù | Grandfather (maternal) |
| 外祖母 | wài zǔ mǔ | Grandmother (maternal) |
| 叔叔 | shū shu | Uncle (paternal younger brother of father) |
| 阿姨 | ā yí | Aunt (paternal sister of father) |
| 伯伯 | bó bo | Uncle (paternal older brother of father) |
| 婶婶 | shěn shen | Aunt (paternal wife of father's older brother) |
| 舅舅 | jiù jiu | Uncle (maternal brother of mother) |
| 姨妈 | yí mā | Aunt (maternal sister of mother) |
| 堂兄弟 | táng xiōng dì | Cousin (paternal) |
| 表兄弟 | biǎo xiōng dì | Cousin (maternal) |
In-Laws and Relatives by Marriage
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 岳父 | yuè fù | Father-in-law |
| 岳母 | yuè mǔ | Mother-in-law |
| 姐夫 | jiě fū | Sister's husband |
| 妹夫 | mèi fū | Younger sister's husband |
| 姐婿 | jiě xù | Husband of one's own sister |
| 妹婿 | mèi xù | Husband of younger sister |
| 舅舅 | jiù jiu | Mother's brother-in-law |
| 姨夫 | yí fū | Aunt's husband |
| 姻亲 | yīn qīn | In-laws |
How to Address Family Members
Knowing the word for "mother" is one thing, but you likely wouldn't use that term when speaking to her directly. So, what are the actual terms used to address family members? Here they are:
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 爸爸 | bà ba | Dad |
| 妈妈 | mā ma | Mom |
| 爷爷 | yé ye | Paternal grandfather |
| 奶奶 | nǎi nai | Paternal grandmother |
| 外公 | wài gōng | Maternal grandfather (used in Southern China) |
| 外公 | wài gōng | Maternal grandmother (used in Southern China) |
| 姥爷 | lǎo ye | Maternal grandfather (used in Northern China) |
| 姥姥 | lǎo lao | Maternal grandmother (used in Northern China) |
| 哥哥 | gē ge | Older brother |
| 弟弟 | dì di | Younger brother |
| 姐姐 | jiě jie | Older sister |
| 妹妹 | mèi mei | Younger sister |
More Chinese Family Vocabulary
Continue your conversations with additional vocabulary related to family life.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 庆祝 | qìng zhù | Celebrate |
| 习俗 | xí sú | Custom |
| 亲爱 的 | qīn ài de | Dear (term of endearment) |
| 亲情 | qīn qíng | Famile affection |
| 家庭活动 | jiā tíng huó dòng | Family activity |
| 家庭聚会 | jiā tíng jù huì | Family gathering |
| 家人 | jiā rén | Family members |
| 合家团圆 | hé jiā tuán yuán | Family reuinion |
| 感恩 | gǎn ēn | Gratitude |
| 祖传 | zǔ chuán | Inherited from ancestors |
| 亲密 | qīn mì | Intimate |
| 爱 | ài | Love |
| 关系 | guān xi | Relationship |
| 尊重 | zūn zhòng | Respect |
| 支持 | zhī chí | Support |
| 照顾 | zhào gù | Take care of |
| 传统 | chuán tǒng | Tradition |
| 信任 | xìn rèn | Trust |
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Once you master these Chinese family vocabulary terms, any confusion about family terms will be behind you!
And One More Thing... For those who wish to learn Chinese through engaging and authentic materials, Lingflix is an excellent resource. It seamlessly guides you into the language. Authentic Chinese content becomes accessible, allowing you to learn Chinese as it is genuinely spoken. Lingflix offers a broad selection of modern videos, including dramas, TV series, advertisements, and music videos.Lingflix App Browse Screen The platform makes these native Chinese videos accessible with interactive subtitles. Tapping on any word provides an instant definition. Every word comes with clear definitions and sample sentences to illustrate its usage. You can save any words you want to practice to a personal vocabulary list.Interactive Transcripts on Lingflix The Learn Mode on Lingflix transforms each video into a language lesson. Swiping left or right reveals more examples for the word you are studying.Lingflix Has Quizzes for Every Video A key feature is that Lingflix monitors your vocabulary progress. It creates tailored quizzes that concentrate on areas needing improvement and sends reminders when it's time to review learned material. This ensures a fully personalized learning experience. Access the Lingflix website on your computer or tablet, or download the app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)
