家人 — Family Members
Name family members in Mandarin: 爸爸 (bàba), 妈妈 (māma), 哥哥 (gēge), 弟弟 (dìdi), 姐姐 (jiějie), 妹妹 (mèimei), 爷爷 (yéye), 奶奶 (nǎinai). Note: Chinese has different words for older vs. younger siblings and maternal vs. paternal grandparents.
A lesson of Mandarin Chinese A1 — Beginner, in Everyday Vocabulary, about 10 minutes.
By the end of this lesson, you will name immediate and extended family members in Mandarin and understand the unique Chinese family vocabulary system.
Why Chinese Family Terms Are Different
English has simple terms: brother, sister, grandmother. Mandarin makes specific distinctions based on:
- Older vs. younger (siblings)
- Maternal vs. paternal (grandparents, aunts, uncles)
- Father's side vs. mother's side (cousins, in-laws)
This reflects the Confucian emphasis on precise social roles.
Immediate Family (核心家庭)
| Chinese | Pinyin | Tones | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 爸爸 | bàba | 4+neutral | dad |
| 妈妈 | māma | 1+neutral | mom |
| 父亲 | fùqīn | 4+1 | father (formal) |
| 母亲 | mǔqīn | 3+1 | mother (formal) |
| 哥哥 | gēge | 1+neutral | older brother |
| 弟弟 | dìdi | 4+neutral | younger brother |
| 姐姐 | jiějie | 3+neutral | older sister |
| 妹妹 | mèimei | 4+neutral | younger sister |
| 儿子 | érzi | 2+neutral | son |
| 女儿 | nǚ'ér | 3+2 | daughter |
| 丈夫 | zhàngfū | 4+1 | husband |
| 妻子 | qīzi | 1+neutral | wife |