What do you call your father's brother, your cousin, or your spouse's sister in Chinese (Mandarin)? Browse or search the full chart below.
Tap any relative in the tree below to see what they're called in Chinese (Mandarin), and what they'd call you back.
Grandparents
Parents & Their Siblings
Siblings & Cousins
Spouse & In-Laws
Children, Grandchildren & Their Spouses
Father's father
Yéye (爷爷)
Father's mother
Nǎinai (奶奶)
Mother's father
Wàigōng (外公)
Mother's mother
Wàipó (外婆)
Father
Bàba (爸爸)
Mother
Māma (妈妈)
Father's older brother
Bóbo (伯伯)
Father's younger brother
Shūshu (叔叔)
Father's sister
Gūgu (姑姑)
Mother's older brother
Jiùjiu (舅舅)
No separate word by age; the same term covers older or younger.
Mother's younger brother
Jiùjiu (舅舅)
Mother's sister
Āyí (阿姨)
Father's older brother's wife
Bómǔ (伯母)
Father's younger brother's wife
Shěnshen (婶婶)
Mother's brother's wife
Jiùmā (舅妈)
Father's sister's husband
Gūfu (姑父)
Mother's sister's husband
Yífu (姨父)
Older brother
Gēge (哥哥)
Younger brother
Dìdi (弟弟)
Older sister
Jiějie (姐姐)
Younger sister
Mèimei (妹妹)
Father's brother's son
Tánggē 堂哥 (older) / Tángdì 堂弟 (younger)
Chinese distinguishes cousins by relative age AND by whether they share your father's surname/patriline (堂 táng) or not (表 biǎo): up to 8 distinct words for what English just calls 'cousin.'
Father's brother's daughter
Tángjiě 堂姐 (older) / Tángmèi 堂妹 (younger)
Father's sister's son
Biǎogē 表哥 (older) / Biǎodì 表弟 (younger)
Father's sister's daughter
Biǎojiě 表姐 (older) / Biǎomèi 表妹 (younger)
Mother's brother's son
Biǎogē 表哥 (older) / Biǎodì 表弟 (younger)
Mother's brother's daughter
Biǎojiě 表姐 (older) / Biǎomèi 表妹 (younger)
Mother's sister's son
Biǎogē 表哥 (older) / Biǎodì 表弟 (younger)
Mother's sister's daughter
Biǎojiě 表姐 (older) / Biǎomèi 表妹 (younger)
Son
Érzi (儿子)
Daughter
Nǚ'ér (女儿)
Grandson
Sūnzi 孙子 (son's son) / Wàisūn 外孙 (daughter's son)
Granddaughter
Sūnnǚ 孙女 (son's daughter) / Wàisūnnǚ 外孙女 (daughter's daughter)
Son-in-law
Nǚxu (女婿)
Daughter-in-law
Érxí (儿媳)
Brother's son
Zhízi (侄子)
Sister's son
Wàisheng (外甥)
Brother's daughter
Zhínǚ (侄女)
Sister's daughter
Wàishengnǚ (外甥女)
Husband
Zhàngfu (丈夫)
Wife
Qīzi (妻子)
Spouse's father
Yuèfù 岳父 (wife's father) / Gōnggong 公公 (husband's father)
Spouse's mother
Yuèmǔ 岳母 (wife's mother) / Pópo 婆婆 (husband's mother)
Husband's older brother
Dàbǎizi (大伯子)
Husband's younger brother
Xiǎoshūzi (小叔子)
Husband's sister
Xiǎogūzi (小姑子)
Wife's brother
Dàjiùzi 大舅子 (older) / Xiǎojiùzi 小舅子 (younger)
Wife's sister
Dàyízi 大姨子 (older) / Xiǎoyízi 小姨子 (younger)
Brother's wife
Sǎozi 嫂子 (older brother's wife) / Dìmèi 弟妹 (younger brother's wife)
Sister's husband
Jiěfu 姐夫 (older sister's husband) / Mèifu 妹夫 (younger sister's husband)
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These terms reflect commonly used Chinese (Mandarin) family vocabulary. Usage can vary by region, dialect, or individual family custom.
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