Chinese Family Tree (Yangon)
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.)
While learning a language, it’s also important to get to know it’s culture. All in all, Chinese culture is interesting and fascinating in many ways. Check here to see our other posts about understanding China. Don’t forget to sign up and get your 1-on-1 free trial with a professional tutor!
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 Protected content
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 Protected content 姨丈(dà/xiǎo) yízhàng
Aunt
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
Husband/ 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
Cousin Protected content
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/ Niece
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sūnzi
Granddaughter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!
Check here for our other posts about understanding China. Our last post about What is Leftover women?
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