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.)

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

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

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

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 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sūnziGranddaughter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!