Family in Chinese
A compact list of common family words in Chinese, ideal for introducing yourself and talking about relatives and everyday relationships. It covers formal and informal terms—from parents and grandparents to marriage and cohabitation. Learn these words to describe your family and follow basic conversations.
- 家庭 jiātíng — family; household
- 家 jiā — home; family; household
- 父亲 fùqīn — father; dad
- 爸爸 bàba — father; dad
- 母亲 mǔqīn — mother (female parent)
- 妈妈 māma — mama; mommy; mother
- 父母 fùmǔ — father and mother; parents
- 孩子 háizi — child; kid
- 儿子 érzi — son (male child)
- 女儿 nǚér — daughter
- 兄弟 xiōngdì — brothers; (male) siblings
- 姐妹 jiěmèi — sisters; female siblings
- 哥哥 gēgē — elder brother; older brother
- 弟弟 dìdi — younger brother
- 姐姐 jiějiě — older sister (your sister who is older than you)
- 妹妹 mèimèi — younger sister
- 祖父 zǔfù — father's father; paternal grandfather
- 祖母 zǔmǔ — father's mother; paternal grandmother
- 外公 wàigōng — mother's father; maternal grandfather
- 外婆 wàipó — mother's mother; maternal grandmother (colloquial)
- 爷爷 yéye — paternal grandfather; grandpa (colloquial)
- 奶奶 nǎinai — grandma (paternal grandmother) — informal
- 孙子 Sūnzǐ — Sun Tzu (Sun Wu), ancient Chinese general and strategist, traditional author of The Art of War
- 孙女 sūnnǚ — son's daughter; granddaughter
- 堂兄弟 tángxiōngdi — father's brother's sons; paternal male cousin
- 表姐 biǎojiě — older female cousin through a female relative
- 表妹 biǎomèi — younger female cousin on the maternal/female side
- 配偶 pèiǒu — spouse (husband or wife)
- 丈夫 zhàngfu — husband
- 妻子 qīzǐ — wife and children (archaic reading; modern 妻子 qīzi means 'wife')
- 结婚 jiéhūn — to marry; to get married
- 婚姻 hūnyīn — marriage; matrimony
- 离婚 líhūn — to divorce; to get divorced
- 单身 dānshēn — unmarried; single; alone
- 亲戚 qīnqi — a relative (family relation)
- 亲人 qīnrén — one's close relatives; family members
- 家人 jiārén — family member; household member
- 家务 jiāwù — household duties; housework
- 赡养 shànyǎng — to support; to provide financial support for (usually parents or elderly relatives)
- 育儿 yùér — to raise a child; child-rearing
- 怀孕 huáiyùn — to be pregnant; to have conceived
- 出生 chūshēng — to be born
- 养父母 yǎngfùmǔ — adoptive parents; parents who have legally adopted a child
- 收养 shōuyǎng — to take in and care for (an elderly person, a dog etc); to adopt (a child); adoption
- 独生子女 dúshēngzǐnǚ — an only child
- 双胞胎 shuāngbāotāi — twin (one of two children born at the same time)
- 岳父 yuèfù — wife's father; father-in-law (wife's side)
- 岳母 yuèmǔ — wife's mother; mother-in-law (wife's side)