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How To Address Family Members in Mandarin for Chinese New Year

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How To Address Family Members in Mandarin for Chinese New Year

Confused by the many variations of ‘aunty’ and uncle’ in Mandarin Chinese? Here are the proper names to call your family, and that of your in-laws.

January 24, 2017

How to address family members in Mandarin for Chinese New Year

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!

https://www.womensweekly.com.sg/gallery/family/call-family-members-mandarin-chinese/
How To Address Family Members in Mandarin for Chinese New Year
1. Your Dad's Family
image
  • 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
Photo: 123RF
2. Your Mum's Family
image
  • 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
Photo: 123RF
3. Your Husband's Family
image
  • 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
Photo: 123RF
4. Your Siblings' Spouses
image
  • 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
Photo: 123RF
5. Your Nephews and Nieces
image
  • 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
Photo: 123RF
  • TAGS:
  • Address
  • chinese
  • chinese new year 2019
  • cny
  • cny 2019
  • family
  • mandarin
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