👨👩👧👦 Immediate Family (Direct Family)
- 爸爸 (bàba) – Dad
- 妈妈 (māma) – Mom
- 哥哥 (gēge) – Older brother
- 弟弟 (dìdi) – Younger brother
- 姐姐 (jiějie) – Older sister
- 妹妹 (mèimei) – Younger sister
- 儿子 (érzi) – Son
- 女儿 (nǚ’ér) – Daughter
- 孩子 (háizi) – Child / children
👴👵 Grandparents
Father’s Side:
- 爷爷 (yéye) – Paternal grandfather (dad’s dad)
- 奶奶 (nǎinai) – Paternal grandmother (dad’s mom)
Mother’s Side:
- 外公 (wàigōng) or 姥爷 (lǎoye) – Maternal grandfather (mom’s dad)
(wàigōng is more common in southern China, lǎoye in the north) - 外婆 (wàipó) or 姥姥 (lǎolao) – Maternal grandmother (mom’s mom)
👨👩👦 Extended Family
On Dad’s Side:
- 叔叔 (shūshu) – Dad’s younger brother
- 伯伯 (bóbo) – Dad’s older brother
- 姑姑 (gūgu) – Dad’s sister
On Mom’s Side:
- 舅舅 (jiùjiu) – Mom’s brother
- 阿姨 (āyí) – Mom’s sister
👫 In-Laws
- 公公 (gōnggong) – Husband’s father (father-in-law)
- 婆婆 (pópo) – Husband’s mother (mother-in-law)
- 岳父 (yuèfù) – Wife’s father
- 岳母 (yuèmǔ) – Wife’s mother
- 儿媳 (érxí) – Son’s wife (daughter-in-law)
- 女婿 (nǚxù) – Daughter’s husband (son-in-law)
❤️ Husband & Wife
- 老公 (lǎogōng) – Husband (informal, casual)
- 丈夫 (zhàngfu) – Husband (formal)
- 老婆 (lǎopó) – Wife (informal, casual)
- 妻子 (qīzi) – Wife (formal)
👶 Niece, Nephew, Cousins (a bit trickier)
In Chinese, even cousins have specific names based on which side of the family and birth order. Here’s a simplified version:
- 侄子 (zhízi) – Nephew (brother’s son)
- 侄女 (zhínǚ) – Niece (brother’s daughter)
- 外甥 (wàishēng) – Nephew (sister’s son)
- 外甥女 (wàishēngnǚ) – Niece (sister’s daughter)
Cousins:
- 堂哥 / 堂姐 / 堂弟 / 堂妹 – Cousins from your father’s brothers
- 表哥 / 表姐 / 表弟 / 表妹 – Cousins from your mother’s side, or father’s sisters’ children