Family Vocabulary in Chinese
Introduction to family member names and respectful terms used in Chinese culture, ideal for beginners just starting to learn the language.
丈夫 (zhàngfu)
husband
The Chinese word for husband is 丈夫. It is often used in the same context as in English, to refer to a married man considered in relation to his spouse.
儿子 (ér zi)
son
The word '儿子' in Chinese is used in the same context as it is in English. It's used to denote the male offspring of parents. It's a common term used in the family context to refer to a boy or a young adult male. It can be used together with possessive pronouns to signify possession. For instance, '我的儿子' means 'my son'.
Example sentences with 儿子 →兄弟 (xiōngdì)
The brother
The Chinese word for 'brother' is '兄弟'. It is used to refer to a male sibling. It can also be used in a more general sense to refer to a close male friend or associate, similar to how 'brother' is used in English.
单一的 (dān yī de)
single
In Chinese, '单一的' means 'single'. It can be used to describe something that is only one in number, sheer, or solitary. For example, in the phrase '单一的市场', it means 'single market'.
叔叔/阿姨 (shū shū/ā yí)
Uncle/Aunt
The Chinese words '叔叔' and '阿姨' can both denote 'uncle' or 'aunt'. However, '叔叔' is commonly used for the younger brother of one's father, while '阿姨' refers to the sister of one's father or the wife of one's father's brother. These words can also be used out of respect for an older male or older female figure whether they're family related or not.
夫妻 (fū qī)
couple
The Chinese word '夫妻' is used to represent a married man and woman, or a romantically involved pair. In short, it refers to a couple. It is used in similar contexts as the English word 'couple', meaning two individuals who share a romantic or sexual relationship.
女儿 (nǚ'ér)
daughter
In Chinese, the term for daughter is '女儿', pronounced 'nǚ'ér'. This word is often used in the same contexts it would be in English, to refer to one's female child. It can be used in both formal and casual conversation.
女孩 (Nǚhái)
girl
In Chinese, the term for 'girl' is '女孩', pronounced as 'Nǚhái'. It can be commonly found in everyday conversations, literature, and media. '女孩' is used to describe a young or adolescent female and is used similarly as 'girl' is used in English.
奶奶 (Nǎinai)
The grandmother
The Chinese word '奶奶' refers to one's paternal grandmother. It's often used among family members and is a respectful and affectionate term used to refer to an elderly woman in one's family. When speaking formally or writing, you might hear or see the term '祖母', which is a more formal term for grandmother.
姐妹 (jiěmèi)
The sister
The word '姐妹' in Chinese is used to refer to a girl or woman in relation to other daughters of her parents. It can be used to address a female sibling, or even, in some contexts, a very close friend who is like a sister. It is often used in familial and close-knit social contexts.
婴儿 (yīng'ér)
baby
The Chinese word for 'baby' is '婴儿'. It is used in the same context as we use 'baby' in English, to refer to a very young child, especially one newly or recently born. Its usage is widespread and is commonly used in everyday conversation.
孩子们 (hái zi men)
The children
In Chinese, '孩子们' is used to refer to more than one child or a group of children. It's often used in talking about children in general or when addressing a group of children.
已婚 (yǐ hūn)
married
The Chinese word '已婚' refers to someone who is already legally bound in a marriage relationship. It can be used in various contexts such as stating one's marital status or to refer to someone who is married.
Example sentences with 已婚 →怀孕 (huái yùn)
pregnant
The Chinese word '怀孕' is used when referring to human beings or animals that have a developing baby, or babies, inside their body. This word is typically used in a medical or personal context. Note that the term remains the same regardless of the number of babies being carried.
房子 (Fángzi)
house
In Chinese, '房子' (Fángzi) translates directly to 'house'. It is commonly used in the same way as in English, to refer to a dwelling or place of residence. You could use it in a sentence like '这是我的房子' (Zhè shì wǒ de fángzi), which means 'This is my house'.
教父 (jiào fù)
godfather
In Chinese, '教父' refers to the man who promises at a Christian baptism to help a child, and often to look after it if its parents die. It can also refer to a person who is influential or to a leader in a particular field.
母亲 (mǔqīn)
mother
The word '母亲' (mǔqīn) is a fairly formal word for mother in Chinese. It is often used in contexts where respect is particularly emphasized, such as in written works and formal conversation. For a more familiar term often used for mother in daily conversation, the word '妈妈' (māmā) is used.
父亲 (fù qīn)
father
The word '父亲' is the formal word for father in Chinese language. It is used in formal situations or when showing respect. In more casual situations, the word '爸爸' might be used instead.
男孩 (nán hái)
boy
The Chinese word for 'boy' is '男孩'. It is used in similar contexts as in English, referring to a young male person, typically a child or teenager. It can be combined with other words to form compounds. For example, '好男孩' means 'good boy'.
男朋友 (nán péngyǒu)
boyfriend
This term is used to refer to a male partner in a romantic or sexual relationship. It is commonly used in spoken and written Mandarin Chinese. For example, 我的男朋友很帅 means 'My boyfriend is very handsome'.
祖父 (zǔ fù)
The grandfather
The Chinese word '祖父' is used to refer to the father of one's parent, paternal or maternal. Similar to the usage in English, it is commonly used in formal and informal settings. In Chinese culture, the family and ancestors are greatly respected, which is also reflected in the language.
舅舅舅妈和叔叔阿姨 (jiùjiù jiùmā hé shūshū āyí)
The aunts and uncles
In Chinese, the words used for aunts and uncles are different depending on whether they are on the mother's side or father's side of the family. '舅舅' is your mother's brother, '舅妈' is your mother's brother's wife, '叔叔' is your father's younger brother, and '阿姨' can refer to your father's younger brother's wife, or your mother's sister. This distinction in Chinese more precisely captures the familial relationship compared to English.
表亲 (biao qin)
The cousin
The Chinese word '表亲' is utilized to refer to a cousin in English. It is mostly used in the context of family, particularly referring to a child of one's uncle or aunt. It is commonly utilized in both conversational and written Chinese.