Chinese Family Tree

For many Chinese language 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 download the app, get your 1-on-1 free trial to learn Chinese online 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	爷爷	yéye
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	(大/小) 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         

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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