Words for family members and other relatives in Cantonese, Hakka, Mandarin and Taiwanese. Mandarin words are shown in simplified characters and traditional characters (where different), and the others are shown in traditional characters.
Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, m = male, f = female, + = elder, - = younger, pt-= paternal, mt-= maternal
| Cantonese (廣東話) |
Hakka (客家話) |
Mandarin (普通话/國語) |
Taiwanese (台灣話) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| family | 家庭 (gàtìhng) | 家庭 (ga1-tin2) | 家庭 (jiātíng) | 家庭 (ka-têng) |
| relative | 親戚 (chānchìk) | 親戚 (cin1-cit7) | 亲戚 [親戚] (qīnqi) | 親戚 (chhin-chhek) |
| parents | 父母 (fuhmóuh) | 父母 (fu5-mu1) | 父母 (fùmǔ) | 父母 (hū-bó) |
| father | 父親 (fuhchàn) frm 爸爸 (bàhbā) inf 阿爸 (a bàh) inf |
爸爸 (ba2-ba1) 阿爸 (a-ba1) |
父親 (fùqīn) frm 爸爸 (bàba) inf |
父親 (hū-chhin) frm 爸 (pâ) inf 阿爸 (ā-pah) inf |
| mother | 母親 (móuhchàn) frm 媽媽 (màhmà) inf 阿母 (a mā) inf |
母親 (mu1-cin1) 媽媽 (ma5-ma3) 阿母 (a1-me1) |
母親 (mǔqīn) frm 妈妈 [媽媽] (māma) inf |
母親 (bó-chhin) frm 媽媽 (ma-ma) inf 阿母 (a-bó) inf 俺娘 (án-niâ) |
| children | 細蚊仔 (saimānjáí) 小童 (síutùhng) |
兒童 (i2-tung2) | 孩子 (háizi) 儿童 [兒童] (értóng) |
gín仔 (gín-á) 囝仔 (kín-á) |
| son | 仔 (jái) | 孲牙子 (o1-nga2) | 儿子 [兒子] (érzi) | 囝兒 (kiáⁿ-lî) |
| daughter | 女 (néui) | 妹仔 (moi5-e3) | 女儿 [女兒] (nǚ'ér) | 女兒 (lí-jî) |
| spouse | 愛人 (ngoiyàhn) 老伴 (lóuhbun) 配偶 (puingáuh) |
愛人 (oi5-ngin2) | 配偶 (pèi'ǒu) | 匹偶 (phit-ngó͘) |
| husband | 先生 (sìnsàang) frm 丈夫 (jeuhngfu) frm 老公 (lóuhgùng) inf |
老公 (lo3-gung1) | 先生 (xiānshēng) frm 丈夫 (zhàng fu) frm 老公 (lǎogong) inf |
先生 (sin-seⁿ) 丈人 (tiūⁿ-lâng) 翁 (ang) |
| wife | 太太 (taaitáai) frm 妻子 (chàjí) 老婆 (lóuhpòh) inf |
老婆 (lo3-po2) | 太太 (tàitài) frm 妻子 (qīzi) 老婆 (lǎopó) inf |
某 (bó) 牽手 (khan-chhiú) 煮飯仔 (chí-pn̄g-á) |
| siblings | 兄弟姐妹 (hìngdaih jímuih) | 兄弟 (hiung1-ti5 zi3-moi5) | 兄弟姐妹 (xiōngdì jiemèi) | 共腹內 (kāng-pak-lāi) 至腹個 (chì-pak-ê) |
| brother | 哥哥 (gòhgō) / 大佬 (daailóu) + 弟弟 (dàihdái) / 細佬 (sailóu) - |
阿哥 (a1-go1)+ 老弟 (lo3-tai1) - |
哥哥 (gēge) + 弟弟 (dìdi) - |
阿兄 (a-hiaⁿ) + 小弟 (sió-tī) - |
| sister | 家姐 (gajē) / 姐姐 (jèhjè) + 妹妹 (mùihmúi) / 細妹 (saimúi) - |
阿姐 (a1-zia3) + 老妹 (lo3-moi5) - |
姐姐 (jiějie) + 妹妹 (mèimèi) - |
姊 (chí) + 小妹 (sió-mōai) - |
| uncle | 阿伯 (a baak) / 伯父 (baakfuh) father's elder brother 阿叔 (a sūk) / 叔父 (sūkfuh) father's younger brother 姑丈 (gùjéung) father's sister's husband 舅父 (káuhfú / káauhfú) mother's brother 姨丈 (yìhjéung) mother's sister's husband 叔叔 (sūksùk) general term |
阿伯 (a1-bak7) father's elder brother 阿叔 (a1-suk7) father's younger brother 大姑爺 (tai5-gu1-ia2) father's elder sister's husband 姑爺 (gu1-ia2) father's younger sister's husband 大舅 (tai5-kiu1) mother's elder brother 舅仔 (kiu1-e3) mother's younger brother 大姨丈 (tai5-i2-cong1) mother's elder sister's husband 姨丈 (i2-cong1) mother's younger sister's husband |
伯伯 (bóbo) father's elder brother 叔叔 (shūshu) father's younger brother 姑丈 (gūzhàng) father's sister's husband 舅舅 (jiùjiu) mother's brother 姨丈 (yízhàng) mother's sister's husband |
阿伯 (a-peh) father's elder brother 阿叔 (ah-chek) father's younger brother 姑丈 (ko͘-tiūⁿ) father's sister's husband 阿舅 (a-kū) mother's brother 姨丈 (î-tiūⁿ) mother's sister's husband |
| aunt | 姑媽 (gūmà) father's elder sister 姑姐 (gūjè) father's younger sister 伯娘 (baakleùhng) father's elder brother's wife 阿嬸 (asám) father's younger brother's wife 姨媽 (yìhmā) mother's elder sister 阿姨 (ayì) mother's younger sister 舅姆 (káuhmóuh) / 妗姆 (káhmmóuh) mother's brother's wife 阿姨 (ayì) / 姨姨 (yīyī) general term |
大姑 (tai5-gu1) father's elder sister 阿姑 (a1-gu1) father's younger sister 阿孃 (a1-nion2) father's elder brother's wife 叔姆 (suk7 me1) father's younger brother's wife 大姨 (tai5-i2) mother's elder sister 姨仔 (i2-e3) mother's younger sister 大舅孃 (tai5-kiu1-nion2) mother's elder brother's wife 舅孃 (kiu1-nion2) mother's younger brother's wife |
姑姑 (gūgu) father's sister 婶婶 (shěnshen) father's brother's wife 姨妈 [姨媽] (yímā) mother's sister 舅妈 [舅媽] (jiùmā) mother's brother's wife |
阿姑 (a-ko) father's sister 阿嬸 (a-chím) father's brother's wife 姨母 (î-bó) mother's sister 阿妗 (a-kīm) mother's brother's wife |
| cousin (paternal) |
堂阿哥 (tòhngagō) +m 堂細佬 (tòhng sailóu) -m 堂家姐 (tòhnggājè) +f 堂細妹 (tòhngsaimúi) -f |
堂兄 (tong2-hiung1) +m 堂弟 (tong2-ti5) -m 堂姐 (tong2-zia3) +f 堂妹 (tong2-moi5) -f |
堂兄 (tángxiōng) +m 堂弟 (tángdì) -m 堂姐 (tángjiě) +f 堂妹 (tángmèi) -f |
叔伯兄 (chek-peh-hiaⁿ) +m 堂弟 (tông-sió-tī) -m 堂姐 (tông-chí) +f 堂妹 (tông-sió-mōai) -f |
| cousin (maternal) |
表阿 (bíugò) +m 表弟 (bíudài) -m 表姐 (bíujé) +f 表妹 (bíumúi) -f |
表兄 (beu3-hiung1) +m 表弟 (beu3-ti5) -m 表姐 (beu3-zia3) +f 表妹 (beu3-moi5) -f |
表兄 (biǎoxiōng) +m 表弟 (biǎodì) -m 表姐 (biǎojiě) +f 表妹 (biǎomèi) -f |
表兄 (piáu-hiaⁿ) +m 表弟 (piáu-sió-tī) -m 表姐 (piáu-chí) +f 表妹 (piáu-sió-mōai) -f |
| nephew | 侄 (ját) brother's son 外甥 (ngoihsàng) sister's son |
侄仔 (ciit8-e3) brother's son 外甥 (ngoi5-sen1) sister's son |
姪子 (zhízi) brother's son 外甥 (wàishēng) sister's son |
姪仔 (ti̍t-á) brother's son 外甥 (gōe-seng) sister's son |
| niece | 侄女 (jahtnéui) brother's daughter 外甥女 (ngoihsàngnéui) sister's daughter |
姪女 (ciit8-ng3) brother's daughter 外甥女 (ngoi5-sen1-ng3) sister's daughter |
姪女 (zhínǚ) brother's daughter 外甥女 (wàishengnǚ) sister's daughter |
姪女 (ti̍t-lí/lú) brother's daughter 外甥女 (gōe-seng-lí/lú) sister's daughter |
| grandfather | 爺爺 (yèhyé) pt 阿爺 (a yèh) pt 公公 (gùnggùng) mt 外公 (ngoihgùng) mt 阿公 (a gung) mt |
阿公 (a1-gung1) pt 姐公 (zia3-gung1) mt |
祖父 (zǔfù) pt-frm 爷爷 [爺爺] (yéye) pt-inf 外公 (wàigōng) mt-frm 公公 (gōnggōng) mt-inf |
祖父 (chó͘-hū) pt-frm 爺 (iâ) pt-inf 外公 (gōa-kong) mt-frm 俺公 (án-kong) mt-inf |
| grandmother | 嫲嫲 (màhmàh) pt 阿嫲 (a màh) pt 婆婆 (pòhpó) mt 外婆 (ngoihpòh) mt 阿婆 (a poh) mt |
阿婆 (a1-po2) pt 姐婆 (zia3-po2) mt |
祖母 (zǔmǔ) pt-frm 奶奶 (nǎinai) pt-inf 外婆 (wài pó) mt-frm 姥姥 (lǎolǎo) mt-inf |
祖母 (chó͘-bó/bú) pt-frm 阿媽 (a-má) pt-inf 外媽 (gōa-má) mt-frm 俺媽 (án-má) mt-inf |
| grandson | 孫 (syùn) son's son 外孫 (ngoihsyùn) daughter's son |
孫仔 (sun1-e3) son's son 外孫 (ngoi5-sun1) daughter's son |
孙子 [孫子] (sūnzi) son's son 外孙子 [外孫子] (wàisūn) daughter's son |
孫子 (sun-á) son's son 外孫 (gōa-sun) daughter's son |
| granddaughter | 孫女 (syùnnéui) son's daughter 外孫女 (ngoihsyùnnéui) daughter's daughter |
孫女 (sun1-ng3) son's daughter 外孫女 (ngoi5-sun1-ng3) daughter's daughter |
孙女 [孫女] (sūnnǚ) son's daughter 外孙女 [外孫女] (wàisūnnǚ) daughter's daughter |
孫女 (sun-lú/lí) son's daughter 外孫女 (gōa-sun-lú) daughter's daughter |
| father-in-law | 老爺 (lóuhyèh) husband's father 外父 (ngoihfú) / 岳父 (ngohkfú) wife's father |
阿公 (a1-gung1) husband's father 大丈老 (cong1-ngin1-lo3) wife's father |
公公 (gōnggong) husband's father 岳父 (yuèfù) wife's father |
大官 (ta-koaⁿ) husband's father 岳父 (ga̍k-hū) wife's father |
| mother-in-law | 奶奶 (nàaihnáai) / 家婆 (gāpó) husband's mother 外母 (ngoihmóu) / 岳母 (ngohkmóu) wife's mother |
公婆 (gung1-po2) husband's mother 丈人 (cong1-ngin1-oi1) wife's mother |
婆婆 (pópo) husband's mother 岳母 (yuèmǔ) wife's mother |
大家 (ta-ke) husband's mother 岳母 (ga̍k-bó/bú) wife's mother |
| brother-in-law | 姐夫 (jéfù) elder sister's husband 妹夫 (muihfù) younger sister's husband 大舅 (daaihkáuh) husband's elder brother 舅仔 (káuhjái) husband's younger brother 大伯 (daaihbaak) wife's elder brother 叔仔 (sūkhjái) wife's younger brother |
姐夫 (zia3-fu1) elder sister's husband 老妹婿 (lo3-moi5-se5) younger sister's husband 大伯 (tai5-bak7) husband's elder brother 細叔 (se5-suk7) husband's younger brother |
姐夫 (jiěfu) elder sister's husband 妹夫 (mèifu) younger sister's husband 大伯 (dàbó) husband's elder brother 小叔 (xiǎoshū) husband's younger brother |
姊夫 (ché-hu) elder sister's husband 妹婿 (mōe-sài) younger sister's husband 阿伯 (a-peh) husband's elder brother 小叔 (sió-chek) husband's younger brother |
| sister-in-law | 阿嫂 (a sóu) elder brother's wife 弟婦 (daihfúh) younger brother's wife 姑奶 (gùnāai) husband's elder sister 姑仔 (gùjái) husband's younger sister 大姨 (daaihyìh) wife's elder sister 姨仔 (yìjái) wife's younger sister |
阿嫂 (a1-so3) elder brother's wife 老弟心妹 (lo3-ti5-sin1-moi5) younger brother's wife 大姨仔 (tai5-i1-e3) wife's elder sister 阿姨仔 (a1-i1-e3) wife's younger sister |
嫂子 (sǎozi) elder brother's wife 弟妹 (dìmèi) younger brother's wife 大姨子 (dàyízi) wife's elder sister 小姨子 (xiǎoyízi) wife's younger sister |
兄嫂人 (hiaⁿ-só-lâng) elder brother's wife 細嬸 (sió-chím) younger brother's wife 某大姨 (bó͘-tōa-î) wife's elder sister 姨仔 (î-á) wife's younger sister |
| son-in-law | 女婿 (néuihsai) | 婿郎 (se5-long2) | 女婿 (nǚxu) | 女婿 (lí-sài) |
| daughter-in-law | 新抱 (sànpóuh) | 心婦 (sin1-fu5) | 媳婦 [媳妇] (xífù) | 囝新婦 (kiáⁿ-sin-pū) |
| Cantonese (廣東話) |
Hakka (客家話) |
Mandarin (普通话/國語) |
Taiwanese (台灣話) |
Information about Chinese kinship terms
http://www.kwanfamily.info/culture/familytitles_table.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_kinship
http://www.chinese-tools.com/chinese/vocabulary/list/138/family.html
http://www.oakton.edu/user/4/billtong/chinaclass/chinesekin.htm
http://www.expatintaiwan.net/family-names/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCFRoILS1jY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1HaZ4WLo50
Hakka Kinship Terms
http://dylansung.tripod.com/hakga/family.htm
Family words in other languages
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