Understanding learn how to tackle relations is essential for Chinese language learners. In Chinese language tradition, utilizing particular phrases reveals respect and acknowledges household hierarchy. These distinctions spotlight conventional household roles and the significance of relationships throughout generations. Let’s take a better look!
What makes referring to household in Chinese language distinctive?
In lots of English-speaking nations, it’s widespread for individuals to name their relations and kinfolk by identify. Additionally, the phrases “aunt” and “uncle” can check with a father’s siblings, a mom’s siblings, and the partner of these siblings. In China, household phrases are used otherwise, and sure phrases are used to point the daddy or the mom’s aspect.
Utilizing the proper phrases improves your vocabulary and prevents any awkward or embarrassing errors together with your Chinese language buddies or their households! Maintain studying to find the important thing phrases, and when you get caught, why not discover studying Chinese language on-line with our knowledgeable tutors at Preply?
Most often used phrases in every day communication
Let’s start with the core household unit:
- Father: Formal 父亲(fù qīn); casual 爸爸 (bà ba)
- Mom: Formal 母亲(mǔ qīn); casual 妈妈 (mā ma)
- Dad and mom: 父母 (fù mǔ)
- Older brother: 哥哥 (gē ge)
- Youthful brother: 弟弟 (dì di)
- Older sister: 姐姐 (jiě jie)
- Youthful sister: 妹妹 (mèi mei)
- Son: 儿子 (ér zi)
- Daughter: 女儿 (nǚ ér)
Household in Chinese language turns into extra particular when referring to prolonged kinfolk:
Paternal kinfolk
- Paternal grandfather: 爷爷 (yé ye)
- Paternal grandmother: 奶奶 (nǎi nai)
- Father’s older brother: 伯父 (bó fù)
- Father’s youthful brother: 叔叔 (shū shu)
- Father’s sister: 姑姑 (gū gu)
- Grandson (son’s son): 孙子 (sūn zi)
- Granddaughter (son’s daughter): 孙女 (sūn nǚ)
Maternal kinfolk
- Maternal grandfather: 外公 (wài gōng)
- Maternal grandmother: 外婆 (wài pó)
- Mom’s brother: 舅舅 (jiù jiu)
- Mom’s youthful sister: 小姨 (xiǎo yí)
- Mom’s elder sister: 姨妈 (yí mā) or 大姨 (dà yí)
- Grandson (daughter’s son): 外孙 (wài sūn)
- Granddaughter (daughter’s daughter): 外孙女 (wài sūn nǚ)
These variations are essential as a result of they present how a lot Chinese language tradition values lineage and household hierarchy.
In-laws and marital relations
- Husband: 丈夫 (zhàng fū) or 老公 (lǎo gōng)
- Spouse: 妻子 (qī zi) or 老婆 (lǎo pó)
- Father-in-law (husband’s father): 公公 (gōng gong)
- Mom-in-law (husband’s mom): 婆婆 (pó po)
- Father-in-law (spouse’s father): 岳父 (yuè fù)
- Mom-in-law (spouse’s mom): 岳母 (yuè mǔ)
Cousins
Paternal cousins (堂 táng):
- Older male cousin (father’s sibling’s son): 堂哥 (táng gē)
- Youthful male cousin (father’s sibling’s son): 堂弟 (táng dì)
- Older feminine cousin (father’s sibling’s daughter): 堂姐 (táng jiě)
- Youthful feminine cousin (father’s sibling’s daughter): 堂妹 (táng mèi)
Maternal cousins (表 biǎo):
- Older male cousin (mom’s sibling’s son): 表哥 (biǎo gē)
- Youthful male cousin (mom’s sibling’s son): 表弟 (biǎo dì)
- Older feminine cousin (mom’s sibling’s daughter): 表姐 (biǎo jiě)
- Youthful feminine cousin (mom’s sibling’s daughter): 表妹 (biǎo mèi)
How will you apply household references successfully?
All these particular phrases might look sophisticated – however don’t fear! Listed below are some tricks to make them simpler to recollect:
Study the phrases for quick household first (as they’re the inspiration for many different phrases)
For instance, from one’s personal father 父亲 (fù qīn), to spouse’s father 岳父 (yuè fù), the character 父 (fù), which suggests father, stays. 亲 (qīn), which suggests associated or kinfolk, is changed by 岳 (yuè), a phrase that signifies the hyperlink to the spouse’s household.
Likewise, on the maternal aspect, the mom’s sisters are denoted by the character 姨 (yí) and 舅 (jiù) for the mom’s brothers. So, the mom’s youthful sister is 小姨 (xiǎo yí). 小(xiǎo, small or little) right here, which suggests youthful in age. 大姨 (dà yí) refers back to the mom’s elder sister. 大 (dà) right here signifies elder in age. 姨妈 (yí mā) additionally typically refers back to the mom’s elder sister.
Equally, one’s organic brothers and sisters are 哥哥(gē ge, elder brother); 姐姐(jiě jie, elder sister);弟弟(dì di, youthful brother); 妹妹(mèi mei, youthful sister).
To vary to cousins on the daddy’s aspect, add 堂 (táng) originally as an indicator for friends from the daddy’s household. For instance, an older male cousin, or father’s sibling’s son, is 堂哥 (táng gē).To vary to cousins on the mom’s aspect, add 表 (biǎo). It signifies relationships with the mom’s household. For instance, an older male cousin, or mom’s sibling’s son, is 表哥 (biǎo gē).
Apply drawing a household tree in Chinese language
Draw a primary household tree with quick household phrases in English and add relations in Chinese language subsequent to them.
Broaden the household tree by including prolonged relations from the daddy’s household after which the mom’s household, and add their Chinese language characters.
Right here is an instance of a household tree in Chinese language. This video may also give some inspiration for making a Chinese language household tree.
Apply with role-play video games
Invite a bunch of buddies and assign every of them a special function within the household.
Begin with quick relations and add extra gamers in as prolonged household or kinfolk.
You may also use identify stickers to assist familiarize your self with totally different roles originally after which take them off as the sport progresses.
Use quizzes to apply referring to relations in Chinese language
This hyperlink supplies some member of the family quizzes that can be utilized for apply. You may also strive:
- Flashcards: Create flashcards with the Chinese language character on one aspect and the English translation on the opposite
- Language change: Apply talking with native Mandarin audio system
- Labeling: Label household images with the suitable Chinese language phrases
- On-line Chinese language classes: 1-on-1 on-line tutors can present real-time suggestions and cultural insights as you be taught Chinese language
Ultimate ideas
In Chinese language tradition, addressing relations accurately is an indication of respect. For instance, distinguishing between older and youthful siblings is essential, due to age hierarchy. Understanding these nuances will add cultural depth to your language abilities, so you’ll be able to work together with Chinese language audio system with out making any unlucky errors! Good luck!