Talking About Family in Mandarin Chinese 家庭 (jiātíng)
Family is important in Chinese culture, and it’s one of the first topics language learners study. In Mandarin Chinese, family vocabulary is specific, especially when talking about relatives.
A. Vocabulary
Please study the family-related vocabulary below to help you build your understanding of the topic.
Note: If you’re using a mobile phone and the audio doesn’t play, then switch to desktop mode.
VOCABULARY OF FAMILY IN MANDARIN CHINESE
No
Pictures
English
Chinese Characters (Simplified)
Pinyin
Audio
1
Family
家
jiā
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2
Parents
父母
fùmǔ
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
3
Father
爸爸
bàba
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
4
Mother
妈妈
māma
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
5
Child
孩子
háizi
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
6
Son
儿子
érzi
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
7
Daughter
女儿
nǚ’ér
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
8
Older brother
哥哥
gēge
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
9
Younger brother
弟弟
dìdi
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
10
Older sister
姐姐
jiějie
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
11
Younger sister
妹妹
mèimei
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
12
Spouse (general)
配偶
pèi’ǒu
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
13
Husband
丈夫
zhàngfu
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
14
Husband (informal)
老公
lǎogōng
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15
Wife
妻子
qīzi
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16
Wife (informal)
老婆
lǎopó
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17
Grandfather (paternal)
爷爷
yéye
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
18
Grandfather (maternal)
外公 / 姥爷
wàigōng / lǎoyé
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
19
Grandmother (paternal)
奶奶
nǎinai
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
20
Grandmother (maternal)
外婆 / 姥姥
wàipó / lǎolao
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
21
Uncle (father’s older brother)
伯伯
bóbo
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22
Uncle (father’s younger brother)
叔叔
shūshu
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23
Uncle (mother’s brother)
舅舅
jiùjiu
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
24
Auntie (father’s sister)
姑姑
gūgu
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
25
Auntie (mother’s sister)
阿姨
āyí
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
26
In-laws (general)
亲家
qìngjiā
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
27
Father-in-law (husband’s father)
公公
gōnggong
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
28
Mother-in-law (husband’s mother)
婆婆
pópo
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
29
Father-in-law (wife’s father)
岳父
yuèfù
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
30
Mother-in-law (wife’s mother)
岳母
yuèmǔ
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 35: TLS connect error: error:0A000438:SSL routines::tlsv1 alert internal error
MAN
Now, take a moment to listen the entire words to reinforce your understanding of the vocabulary.
B. Listening Activity
Please listen to the following audio then answer the questions that follow.
2. How Many Family Members Do You Have?
Use 几口人 (jǐ kǒu rén) to ask how many people are in your family. Here, 口 (kǒu) is a measure word for people in the household. And use 有 (yǒu) to say you have something or someone.
✅ Structure: 你家有几口人？ Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén? → How many people are in your family?
Answer: 我家有 + number + 口人。 Wǒ jiā yǒu + number + kǒu rén.
📝 Examples: 我家有五口人。 Wǒ jiā yǒu wǔ kǒu rén. → There are 5 people in my family.
他家有三口人。 Tā jiā yǒu sān kǒu rén. → His family has 3 people.
3. Useful Expressions
a. 你家有几口人？ Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén? How many people are there in your family?
b. 我家有五口人：爸爸、妈妈、哥哥、妹妹和我。 Wǒ jiā yǒu wǔ kǒu rén: bàba, māma, gēge, mèimei hé wǒ. There are five people in my family: Dad, Mom, older brother, younger sister, and me.
c. 我有一个哥哥。 Wǒ yǒu yí gè gēge. I have an older brother.
d. 他们是谁？ Tāmen shì shéi? Who are they?
e. 他们是我的爸爸妈妈。 Tāmen shì wǒ de bàba māma. They are my dad and mom.
f. 你有兄弟姐妹吗？ Nǐ yǒu xiōngdì jiěmèi ma? Do you have siblings?
g. 你有孩子吗？ Nǐ yǒu háizi ma? Do you have children?
4. Dialogue for Practice
Practice the following dialogue.
👩 小美 (Xiǎo Měi) 👦 小龙 (Xiǎo Lóng)
小美：你家有几口人？ Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén? How many people are in your family?
小龙：我家有四口人。爸爸、妈妈、姐姐和我。你呢？ Wǒ jiā yǒu sì kǒu rén. Bàba, māma, jiějie hé wǒ. Nǐ ne? There are 4 people: Dad, Mom, older sister, and me. How about you?
小美：我家有五口人。爸爸、妈妈、两个弟弟和我。 Wǒ jiā yǒu wǔ kǒu rén. Bàba, māma, liǎng gè dìdi hé wǒ. My family has 5 people: Dad, Mom, two younger brothers, and me.
小龙：你有兄弟姐妹吗？ Nǐ yǒu xiōngdì jiěmèi ma? Do you have brothers and sisters?
小美：有，我有两个弟弟。你呢？ Yǒu, wǒ yǒu liǎng gè dìdi. Nǐ ne? Yes, I have two younger brothers. And you?
小龙：我有一个姐姐。 Wǒ yǒu yí gè jiějie. I have one older sister.
