Addressing relatives in English is fairly simple: there are aunties and uncles, and for the older generation, grand-aunties and grand-uncles. Translate these into Mandarin, with a different name for each relative based on their relative age to you, and most of us draw a blank. How do we remember the proper names for family members we only meet once a year, if then?
READ MORE:
10 Feng Shui Tips Married Couples Should Follow For An Auspicious CNY
Witty Comebacks For Nosey Questions From Your Relatives This Chinese New Year
18 Manicure Designs Perfect For Chinese New Year
To avoid an embarassing faux pax when the inevitable moment for greeting arrives, we’ve compiled a list of the most common family members’ names in Mandarin. But first, you’ll have to know how you’re related to the relative in question; sorry, we can’t help you there!
- Tai Ye – Your dad’s paternal grandfather
- Tai Tai – Your dad’s paternal grandmother
- Ye Ye/Zu Fu – Your paternal grandfather
- Nai Nai/Zu Mu – Your paternal grandmother
- Bo Bo – Your dad’s older brother
- Bo Mu – Your dad’s older brother’s wife
- Shu Shu – Your dad’s younger brother
- Shen Shen – Your dad’s younger brother’s wife
- Gu Gu – Your dad’s sister
- Gu Fu – Your dad’s sister’s husband
- Tai Lao Ye – Your mum’s paternal grandfather
- Tai Lao Lao – Your mum’s paternal grandmother
- Wai Gong – Your maternal grandfather
- Wai Po – Your maternal grandmother
- Jiu Jiu – Your mum’s brother
- Jiu Ma – Your mum’s brother’s wife
- A-yi – Your mum’s sister
- Yi Fu – Your mum’s sister’s husband
- Gong Gong – Your father-in-law
- Po Po – Your mother-in-law
- Da Bo Zi – Your husband’s older brother
- Da Bo Sao – Your husband’s older brother’s wife
- Xiao Shu Zi – Your husband’s younger brother
- Xiao Shen Zi – Your husband’s younger brother’s wife
- Da Gu Zi – Your husband’s elder sister
- Xiao Gu Zi – Your husband’s younger sister
- Sao Zi – Your older brother’s wife
- Di Mei – Your younger brother’s wife
- Jie Fu – Your older sister’s husband
- Mei Fu – Your younger sister’s husband
- Zhi Zi – Your brother’s son
- Zhi Nv – Your brother’s daughter
- Wai Sheng – Your sister’s son
- Wai Sheng Nv – Your sister’s daughter