What does 外婆 (wàipó) mean?

外婆 (wàipó) is your maternal grandmother — your mother's mother. The 外 (wài) prefix literally means outside, because a woman traditionally joined her husband's household, so her own parents became the outside family. Her husband, your maternal grandfather, is 外公 (wàigōng). On your father's side the words are completely different: 奶奶 (nǎinai) for grandmother and 爷爷 (yéye) for grandfather.

What is the difference between 舅舅 (jiùjiu) and 叔叔 (shūshu)?

Both translate to uncle in English, but they are not interchangeable. 舅舅 (jiùjiu) is your mother's brother. 叔叔 (shūshu) is your father's younger brother — your father's older brother is 伯伯 (bóbo). English collapses all three into one word; Chinese keeps the side of the family and the birth order distinct.

What does 阿姨 (āyí) mean and how is it pronounced?

阿姨 is pronounced āyí — first tone on ā, second tone rising on yí. It means your mother's sister. It is also the ordinary polite way to address any woman of roughly your parents' generation, and the usual word for a housekeeper or nanny, so context decides which sense is meant.

How do you say cousin in Chinese?

There is no single word. Cousins take a 表 (biǎo) or 堂 (táng) prefix plus the ordinary sibling word, so birth order and gender are always specified: 表哥 (biǎogē) older male cousin, 表弟 (biǎodì) younger male cousin, 表姐 (biǎojiě) older female cousin, 表妹 (biǎomèi) younger female cousin. 堂 is used for the children of your father's brothers; 表 covers the rest.

Is there a word for siblings in Chinese?

Not as a single neutral word you can use the way English uses siblings. You must specify older or younger: 哥哥 (gēge) older brother, 弟弟 (dìdi) younger brother, 姐姐 (jiějie) older sister, 妹妹 (mèimei) younger sister. The collective 兄弟姐妹 (xiōngdì jiěmèi), literally brothers-sisters, is the closest equivalent.

How should I address relatives I am meeting for the first time?

Use the kinship title rather than the person's name — calling an aunt 阿姨 rather than by name is the respectful default, and Chinese families generally use titles instead of given names for anyone older. If you are unsure of the exact relationship, 叔叔 (shūshu) for a man and 阿姨 (āyí) for a woman of your parents' generation is safe and will not cause offence.

Family Members in Chinese: Complete Guide with Pinyin

body{font-family:sans-serif;max-width:860px;margin:40px auto;padding:0 20px;color:#1a1a2e}Family Members in Chinese: Complete Guide with PinyinLearn Chinese family vocabulary: father, mother, siblings, grandparents, and more — with pinyin, example sentences, and notes on Chinese family naming conventions.Beginner Guides

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