Learn Mandarin: How to Use Chinese Characters to build Family Relationship Names

Article by yen03 (1,053 pts ) , published Aug 27, 2009

Chinese families are hierarchical and paternal, (father’s families are internal and mother’s families are external). There is a title for each immediate and extended family member on both paternal and maternal side. Generally, they're built from the same radicals/characters in different combinations

Families

【jiā=home】

【rén=people】

家人【jiārén=families, the literal meaning is home people】

Chinese Immediate Family Members

Husband and Wife

【zhàng=a form of address for certain male relatives by marriage】

【fū= husband】

丈夫【zhàngfū= husband】

 

【qī= wife】in which 【nǚ】is the base-structured radical; it’s often used to describe anything that related to female.

【zǐ= person】

妻子【qīzi= wife, the literal meaning is wife person】

 

【fū= husband】

【qī= wife】in which 【nǚ】is also the base-structured radical

夫妻【fūqī= husband and wife】

 

【lǎo=old】

【gōng= male】

老公【lǎogōng= <informal> husband, the literal meaning is old male】

 

【pó= old woman】using【nǚ】for the base-structured radical

老婆【lǎopo=<informal> wife, the literal meaning is old woman】

Examples in use

Parents【fù=father】

【mǔ= mother】

父母【fùmǔ=parents, father and mother】

Description:

【bà】,【ma】, 爸爸 【bàba】and 妈妈 【māma】 are used to call the parents and mention them in the third-person.

Example 1:

I really miss my parents.

【wǒ=I】【hěn=really】 想念【xiǎngniàn=miss】【wǒ=my】 爸爸【bàba=father】 妈妈【māma=mother】。

 

Or you can say,” 【wǒ=I】 【hěn=really】 想念【xiǎngniàn=miss】 【wǒ=my】 爸妈【bàma=parents】。”

 

我 很 想念 我 爸爸 妈妈。

我 很 想念 我 爸妈。

 

Example 2:

Father, I want to buy an iPod

爸爸【bàba=father】, 【wǒ=I】 【xiǎng=want to】 【mǎi=buy】 一个【yīgè=an】iPod。

爸爸,我 想买 一个 iPod。

 

Mother, I want to buy an iPod

妈妈【māma=mother】,【wǒ=I】 【xiǎng=want to】 【mǎi=buy】 一个【yīgè=an】iPod。

妈妈,我 想 买 一个 iPod。

 

When Chinese people call their both parents at the same time, they usually use the abbreviation 【ba】for 爸爸【bàba】and【ma】for 妈妈【māma】.

Example:

Dad, Mom, I want to buy an iPod.

【ba=father】, 【ma=mother】, 【wǒ=I】 【xiǎng=want to】 【mǎi=buy】 一个【yīgè=an】iPod

爸,妈,我 想 买 一个 iPod.

 

*Chinese people don’t say,” 【fù=father】, 【mǔ=mother】,【wǒ=I】 【xiǎng=want to】【mǎi=buy】 一个【yīgè=an】iPod”。

* incorrect ,母, 我 想 买 一个 iPod。

Sons and Daughters

【ér=child】

【zi=child】

儿子【érzi= son, the literal meaning is child child】

 

【nǚ=female】

【ér=child】

女儿【nǚ'ér=daughter, the literal meaning is female child】

 

Brothers and Sisters

【gē= older brother】

哥哥 【gēgē=older brother】

 

【dì= younger brother】

弟弟 【dìdi=younger brother】

 

【jiě= older sister】in which 【nǚ】is used as a radical describing female.

姐姐 【jiějie=older sister】

 

【mèi= younger sister】in which 【nǚ】is also the left radical,

妹妹 【mèimèi=younger sister】

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