Family words in Chinese languages

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)

Links

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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