In a Chinese big family, there are different terms to address family members or relatives in different parts of China. Let’s take a look at some frequently used terms.

The basis of the family is the parents — Dad and Mom, so it is also divided into two branched: the father’s side of the family and the mother’s side of the family.

How do you refer to your family members on the father’s side of family in Chinese. Let’s find out

Grandparents’ Generation（祖父一辈 zǔfù yī bèi）
Grandfather （father’s father） – 爷爷 (yéyé)
Grandmother （father’s mohter） – 奶奶 (nǎinai)

Father’s Generation （父亲一辈 fùqīn yī bèi）
Father – 爸爸 (bàba)
Father’s older brother – 伯伯 (bóbo) (The wife of 伯伯 （bóbo）is called 伯母 (Bómǔ)
Father’s younger brother – 叔叔(shūshu) (The wife of 叔叔(shūshu) is called 婶婶 (shěnshen)
Father’s （older/younger) sister – 姑姑（gūgu) (The husband of 姑姑（gūgu）is called 姑父(gūfu)

Your Generation （同辈 tóngbèi）
Your older brother – 哥哥 (The wife of 哥哥 is called 嫂子)
Your younger brother – 弟弟 (The wife of 弟弟 is called 弟妹)
Your older sister – 姐姐 (The husband of 姐姐 is called 姐夫)
Your younger brother -妹妹 (The husband of 妹妹 is called 妹夫)

Relatives of Your Generation (同辈亲戚 tóngbèi qīnqī）
Father’s elder/ younger brother’s son (if older than you) – 堂哥 (Tánggē)
Father’s elder/younger brother’s son (if younger than you) – 堂弟 (Táng dì)
Father’s elder/younger brother’s daughter (if older than you) – 堂姐 (Táng jiě)
Father’s elder/younger brother’s daughter (if younger than you) – 堂妹 (Táng Mèi)
Father’s elder/younger sister’s son (if older than you) –表哥 (Biǎo gē)
Father’s elder/younger sister’s son (if younger than you) – 表弟 (Biǎo dì)
Father’s elder/younger sister’s daughter (if older than you) -表姐 (Biǎo jiě)
Father’s elder/younger sister’sdaughter (if younger than you) -表妹 (Biǎo mèi)

Children‘s Generation (小辈 xiǎobèi)
Son – 儿子 (érzi)
Son’s wife – 儿媳 (érxí)
Daughter – 女儿 (nǚ’ér)
Daughter’s husband – 女婿 (nǚxù)

Relatives of Children’s Generation
Your older/younger brother’son- 侄子(zhízi)
Your older/younger brother’daughter – 侄女(zhínǚ)
Your older/younger sister’s son – 外甥 (wàishēng)
Your older/younger sister’s daughter- 外甥女 (wàishēngnǚ)

How do you refer to your family members on the mother’s side of family in Chinese. Please see it as below:

Grandparents’ Generation （外祖父一辈 wàizǔfù yī bèi）
Grandfather (mother’s father) – 外公 (wàigōng) or 姥爷 (Lǎoyé)
Grandmother(mother’s mother) -外婆 (wàipó) or 姥姥 (lǎolao)

Mother’s generation (母亲一辈 mǔqīn yī bèi）
Mother：妈妈(māma)
Mother’s older /younger brother -舅舅 (Jiùjiu) (The wife of 舅舅 (Jiùjiu) is called 舅妈 (jiùmā))
Mother’s older/younger sister – 姨妈(yímā) (The husband of 姨妈(yímā) is called 姨夫 (yífū))

Your Generation （同辈 tóngbèi ）
Mother’s brother and sister’s son (if older than you) –表哥 (Biǎo gē)
Mother’s brother and sister’s son (if younger than you) – 表弟 (Biǎo dì)
Mother’s brother and sister’s daughter (if older than you) -表姐 (Biǎo jiě)
Mother’s brother and sister’s daughter (if younger than you) -表妹 (Biǎo mèi)

In Chinese if you got married, your wife/husband parents are also your parents, you have to call them mother and father, how to address them in Chinese, and how can you introduce them when you talk with others, let’s see below:

Husband’s father- 公公 (gōnggong)
Husband’s mother- 婆婆 (pópo)
Wife’s father- 岳丈（yuèzhàng) or 丈人 (zhàngrén)
Wife’s mother – 岳母 (yuèmǔ) or 丈母 (zhàngmǔ)

Learn how to address your family members by a Chinese children’s  song: The Family Song家族歌 (Jiāzú gē))

For example：

Tā shì wǒ de jiějiě
她是我的姐姐。
She is my older sister.

Wǒ yǒu yīgè erzi hé yīgè nǚ’ér.
我有一个儿子和一个女儿。
I have a son and a daughter.

Wǒ érzi shì lǎoshī.
我儿子是老师。
My son is a teacher.

Zhè shì wǒ de bàba.
这是我的爸爸。
This is my Dad.