Family (家庭, jiātíng) is central to Chinese culture, and learning how to discuss family in Mandarin (中文, zhōngwén) is essential for expat students. In China, family relationships are highly valued, and understanding the correct terms and etiquette helps you communicate respectfully.
Unlike in English, Chinese has specific words for almost every family member, reflecting the importance of hierarchy, age, and gender in family relationships. Knowing these terms not only improves your language skills but also gives insight into Chinese culture and social norms.
Basic Family Vocabulary
Here are the most common family members and how to address them in Mandarin:
- Father (爸爸, bàba)
- Mother (妈妈, māma)
- Older brother (哥哥, gēge)
- Younger brother (弟弟, dìdi)
- Older sister (姐姐, jiějie)
- Younger sister (妹妹, mèimei)
- Grandfather (爷爷, yéye) – paternal
- Grandmother (奶奶, nǎinai) – paternal
- Maternal grandfather (外公, wàigōng)
- Maternal grandmother (外婆, wàipó)
Example sentences:
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.
我的爸爸妈妈都很友善 (wǒ de bàba māma dōu hěn yǒushàn) – My father and mother are both very kind.
Talking About Extended Family
In Chinese culture, extended family members are also important. Knowing how to refer to them accurately shows respect and cultural awareness.
- Uncle (father’s older brother) (伯伯, bóbo)
- Uncle (father’s younger brother) (叔叔, shūshu)
- Aunt (father’s sister) (姑姑, gūgu)
- Uncle (mother’s brother) (舅舅, jiùjiu)
- Aunt (mother’s sister) (阿姨, āyí)
- Cousin (堂兄/堂弟, tángxiōng/tángdì) – paternal cousins
- Cousin (表兄/表弟, biǎoxiōng/biǎodì) – maternal cousins
Example sentences:
我的舅舅住在北京 (wǒ de jiùjiu zhù zài Běijīng) – My maternal uncle lives in Beijing.
她的姑姑非常善良 (tā de gūgu fēicháng shànliáng) – Her paternal aunt is very kind.
Discussing Family Size and Relationships
Family size can be a common topic of conversation. In Mandarin, you can ask and describe family members politely:
你家有几口人？(nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén?) – How many people are in your family?
我家有五口人：爸爸、妈妈、两个姐姐和我 (wǒ jiā yǒu wǔ kǒu rén: bàba, māma, liǎng gè jiějie hé wǒ) – There are five people in my family: father, mother, two older sisters, and me.
我的家人非常亲密 (wǒ de jiārén fēicháng qīnmì) – My family is very close.
It’s also common to describe relationships with adjectives:
爷爷很慈祥 (yéye hěn cíxiáng) – Grandfather is very kind and gentle.
妈妈很严格，但她很爱我 (māma hěn yángé, dàn tā hěn ài wǒ) – My mother is strict, but she loves me very much.
Polite Phrases About Family
When asking about someone’s family, polite expressions are important:
你家人好吗？(nǐ jiārén hǎo ma?) – How is your family?
请问，你有兄弟姐妹吗？(qǐng wèn, nǐ yǒu xiōngdì jiěmèi ma?) – May I ask, do you have siblings?
我希望你家一切都好 (wǒ xīwàng nǐ jiā yīqiè dōu hǎo) – I hope everything is well with your family.
These expressions show that you care about the family, which is highly valued in Chinese culture. Asking politely also respects social norms.
Family Etiquette in Conversation
- Address elders formally using their titles (爷爷, 奶奶, 伯伯, 阿姨, etc.) rather than first names.
- When introducing your own family, it is common to mention relationships and ages.
- Avoid making jokes about family members unless you know the person very well, as it can be considered disrespectful.
- In group settings, elders are often greeted first, showing respect for age hierarchy.
Example sentences demonstrating etiquette:
见到老师时，我先向他的父母问好 (jiàn dào lǎoshī shí, wǒ xiān xiàng tā de fùmǔ wènhǎo) – When meeting the teacher, I first greet his parents.
在家里，我们总是尊重长辈 (zài jiālǐ, wǒmen zǒng shì zūnzhòng zhǎngbèi) – At home, we always respect the elders.
Talking About Family Activities
Family gatherings are important in Chinese culture. You can use these phrases to describe activities:
周末我们一家人一起吃饭 (zhōumò wǒmen yī jiārén yīqǐ chīfàn) – On weekends, our whole family eats together.
春节时，我们全家回老家 (chūnjié shí, wǒmen quán jiā huí lǎojiā) – During Chinese New Year, our entire family goes back to our hometown.
每年夏天，我们会一起去旅行 (měi nián xiàtiān, wǒmen huì yīqǐ qù lǚxíng) – Every summer, we travel together as a family.
Talking about family activities allows you to connect with locals, as family life is a frequent topic of conversation.
Vocabulary
- 家庭 (jiātíng) – family
- 爸爸 (bàba) – father
- 妈妈 (māma) – mother
- 哥哥 (gēge) – older brother
- 妹妹 (mèimei) – younger sister
- 外公 (wàigōng) – maternal grandfather
- 舅舅 (jiùjiu) – maternal uncle
- 阿姨 (āyí) – maternal aunt
- 兄弟姐妹 (xiōngdì jiěmèi) – siblings
- 长辈 (zhǎngbèi) – elder / senior family member
