How to Say Family in Chinese and Use It in Everyday Sentences

Say 'family' in Chinese language as 家庭 or 家人. See how to use these words in daily sentences and talk about your family in Chinese with confidence.
How to Say Family in Chinese and Use It in Everyday Sentences

When you want to talk about family in Chinese, you usually use 家庭 (jiātíng) or 家人 (jiārén). These words sound like "jyah-ting" and "jyah-ren." Here’s a quick look at some common words you might use when talking about family in Chinese language:

English

Mandarin

wife

妻子 (qī zi)

husband

丈夫 (zhàng fu)

mother

母亲 (mǔ qīn)

father

父亲 (fù qīn)

daughter

女儿 (nǚ ér)

son

儿子 (ér zi)

grandfather

祖父 (zǔ fù)

grandmother

外祖母 (wài zǔ mǔ)

big brother

哥哥 (gē ge)

little brother

弟弟 (dì di)

big sister

姐姐 (jiě jie)

little sister

妹妹 (mèi mei)

Many beginners find it tricky to match these words with their real family members. You might also find making a family tree in Chinese a bit tough at first. If you want to learn faster, Coachers.org offers fun, flexible coaching online, so you can practice anytime and anywhere.

Key Takeaways

  • Learn important family words in Chinese. 家庭 (jiātíng) means family. 家人 (jiārén) means family members. These words help you talk about people you care about.

  • Practice saying words with the right tones. 妈妈 (māma) and 爸爸 (bàba) sound different if you change the tone. Listen to native speakers to get better at this.

  • Use easy sentences to ask about family. You can ask 你的家庭有几个人?(How many people are in your family?) This helps you start talking with others.

  • Make a family tree to see how people are related. This fun project helps you remember family words. It also helps you understand how everyone connects.

  • Try interactive lessons on Coachers.org for more practice. You can learn at your own speed. Expert coaches give you feedback to help you improve.

How to Say Family in Chinese Language

家庭 (jiātíng) and 家人 (jiārén)

When you want to talk about family in Chinese language, you have a few words to choose from. The most common ones are 家庭 (jiātíng) and 家人 (jiārén). You use 家庭 when you mean the whole family unit, like your household. 家人 means your family members, the people in your family.

You might also hear 家里人 (jiālǐ rén), which means "people at home" or "family members at home." If you want to say "my family," you can use 我家 (wǒ jiā). These words help you talk about your family in chinese language in different ways.

Here’s a table with some useful words you’ll see when learning how to say family in chinese:

Chinese

Pinyin

English

家人

jiā rén

Family members

家庭活动

jiā tíng huó dòng

Family activity

家庭聚会

jiā tíng jù huì

Family gathering

合家团圆

hé jiā tuán yuán

Family reunion

亲情

qīn qíng

Family affection

You can use these words to talk about family in chinese language at home, at school, or with friends.

Pronunciation Tips

Let’s make sure you say these words the right way. Chinese uses tones, so the way you say each word can change its meaning. Try saying 家庭 (jiātíng) like "jyah-ting," with a rising tone on "ting." 家人 (jiārén) sounds like "jyah-ren," with a rising tone on "ren." Practice saying each word slowly, then try it faster.

If you want to sound more natural, listen to native speakers. You can use online tools or ask your Coachers.org tutor for help. They’ll give you feedback and help you get the tones right. Don’t worry if you make mistakes at first. You’ll get better with practice.

Tip: Record yourself saying each word. Play it back and compare it to a native speaker. This helps you hear the difference and improve your pronunciation.

Usage in Daily Conversation

You can use these words every day. If you want to ask someone about their family in chinese language, you can say:

  • 你的家庭有几个人?(nǐ de jiātíng yǒu jǐ gè rén?) — How many people are in your family?

  • 我家有五个人。(wǒ jiā yǒu wǔ gè rén.) — My family has five people.

  • 你喜欢和家人一起做什么?(nǐ xǐhuān hé jiārén yīqǐ zuò shénme?) — What do you like to do with your family members?

You can talk about family activities, gatherings, or reunions. For example, you might say:

  • 我们周末有家庭聚会。(wǒmen zhōumò yǒu jiātíng jùhuì.) — We have a family gathering this weekend.

  • 合家团圆很重要。(hé jiā tuán yuán hěn zhòngyào.) — Family reunion is important.

If you want to learn how to say family in chinese in real-life situations, Coachers.org makes it easy. You get practical lessons, role-play, and real conversations. You can practice with your coach and use these words in everyday life. This helps you remember them and use them naturally.

Note: The more you use family in chinese language in your daily conversations, the faster you’ll remember the words. Try talking about your family with your coach or classmates.

Family Members in Chinese

Family Members in Chinese
Image Source: unsplash

Learning how to talk about family members in Chinese helps you connect with people and understand Chinese culture better. You’ll notice that Mandarin has many words for different family members. These words show respect, age, and even which side of the family someone comes from. Let’s break it down so you can start using these terms with confidence.

Immediate Family

Your immediate family includes your closest relatives. Here are the most important words you’ll use:

  • 父亲 (fùqīn): father (formal)

  • 爸爸 (bàba): dad (informal)

  • 母亲 (mǔqīn): mother (formal)

  • 妈妈 (māma): mom (informal)

  • 哥哥 (gēge): older brother

  • 弟弟 (dìdì): younger brother

  • 姐姐 (jiějie): older sister

  • 妹妹 (mèimei): younger sister

  • 儿子 (érzi): son

  • 女儿 (nǚ’ér): daughter

  • 孩子 (háizi): child

You can use formal words when you want to sound respectful or in official situations. Informal words work best with friends or at home. Coachers.org helps you practice both, so you always know which one to use.

Tip: Try saying these words out loud. Notice how each one sounds a little different. This will help you remember them when you talk about your immediate family.

Extended Family

Chinese has special words for extended family members. These words tell you if someone is from your mom’s side or your dad’s side. Here’s a handy table:

汉字

Pinyin

English

伯伯

bóbo

dad's older brother

叔叔

shūshu

dad's younger brother

姑妈

gūmā

dad's older sister

姑姑

gūgu

dad's younger sister

舅舅

jiùjiu

mom's brother

姨妈

yímā

mom's older sister

阿姨

āyí

mom's younger sister

堂兄

tángxiōng

older male cousin (dad's side)

表姐

biǎojiě

older female cousin (mom's side)

You’ll see that Chinese families use different words for each relationship. This shows how much family members matter in Chinese culture. When you learn with Coachers.org, you can focus on the family members that are most important to you.

In-Laws and Relatives

Talking about in-laws and other relatives can get tricky, but you’ll get the hang of it. Here are some common terms:

Relationship

Chinese Term

Pinyin

Father-in-law (husband's side)

公公

gōnggong

Mother-in-law (husband's side)

婆婆

pópo

Father-in-law (wife's side)

岳父

yuèfù

Mother-in-law (wife's side)

岳母

yuèmǔ

Older sister's husband

姐夫

jiěfū

Younger sister's husband

妹夫

mèifū

Older brother's wife

嫂子

sǎozi

Younger brother's wife

弟妇

dìfù

Chinese families often use different words for in-laws depending on the region. You might hear new words if you travel or meet people from other parts of China. Coachers.org can help you learn the words that fit your own family members and your daily life.

Note: Chinese family vocabulary is big because family plays a huge role in Chinese life. You’ll see how each word shows respect and the place of each person in the family.

Referring to Family in Chinese Sentences

Referring to Family in Chinese Sentences
Image Source: pexels

Everyday Sentences

You want to talk about your family in daily life. You can use simple sentences to share information or ask questions. Here are some common ways for referring to family in chinese:

  • 这是我妈妈。(zhè shì wǒ māma) — This is my mom.

  • 他是我哥哥。(tā shì wǒ gēge) — He is my older brother.

  • 我有两个孩子。(wǒ yǒu liǎng gè háizi) — I have two children.

You can also describe your family members or share stories. Try these sentence patterns:

  • 我叫___。(wǒ jiào ___) — My name is ___.

  • 我是她的女儿。(wǒ shì tā de nǚ’ér) — I am her daughter.

  • 我们在家里认识。(wǒmen zài jiālǐ rènshi) — We met at home.

Tip: Use words like 家人 (jiārén), 母亲 (mǔqīn), and 父亲 (fùqīn) in your daily speech. This helps you remember vocabulary and makes referring to family in chinese feel natural.

Asking and Answering About Family

You often want to ask others about their family. Here are some questions and answers you might hear:

Speaker

Mandarin Phrase

English Translation

A

你有跟家人住吗

Do you live with your family?

B

有和太太

Yes, with my wife

A

喔跟太太哦

Oh, with your wife

You can use these questions to start a conversation:

  • 你结婚了吗? (Are you married?)

  • 你有孩子吗? (Do you have children?)

  • 你的父母住在哪里? (Where do your parents live?)

  • 你的妹妹叫什么名字? (What’s your little sister’s name?)

When you practice referring to family in chinese, you learn more about culture and relationships. You might make mistakes, like mixing up older and younger siblings or using the wrong word for in-laws. Don’t worry! Coachers.org uses scenario-based learning and role-play to help you get it right. You can join speaking sessions, try real-life exercises, and get feedback from your coach.

Activity Type

Description

Scenario-based exercises

Practice introducing your family or ordering food in Chinese

Partner/group speaking sessions

Talk with classmates about your family

Feedback and correction

Get tips to improve your sentences

Note: Talking about family is a big part of Chinese culture. You build confidence by using these words in real conversations.

Tips for Practicing Family Vocabulary

Family Tree Activities

Do you want a fun way to learn Chinese family words? Try making your own family tree. You can draw it on paper or use cards. Some websites give you free cards with family names. Sort and match each card to the right spot on your tree. This shows how everyone is connected. It helps you remember the words better. You can color the cards or add pictures for each person. Using pictures and memory tricks makes learning easier. If you get stuck, picture the family in your mind. You can also use the Memory Palace method to organize words.

Tip: Say each family member’s name out loud while you build your tree. This helps you remember how the words sound and what they mean.

Flashcards and Quizzes

Flashcards are a great way to learn Chinese family words. You can use apps or make your own cards. Many websites have lots of audio flashcards. These help you learn by repeating and hearing feedback. Flashcards link words to pictures, which helps you remember. Quizzes make learning more fun. You can try dictation quizzes, sentence scrambles, or speaking tests. Here are some quiz types:

Quiz Type

What You Practice

Dictation Quiz

Listening and writing

Sentence Scramble

Grammar and word order

Speaking Test

Pronunciation and fluency

Word Search

Recognizing characters

Games and quizzes keep you interested and help you learn. You can see your progress and feel proud of small wins.

Practice with Coachers.org

You want practice that fits your schedule. Coachers.org gives you group or private sessions online. You get tools, feedback, and progress reports every month. You can join from anywhere. The platform lets you change your learning plan and see your growth. You can practice speaking, role-play, and use flashcards or quizzes. Coaches help you every step. You can see your progress and make changes if you need to. This makes learning Chinese family words easy and fun.

Note: Practicing often and getting help from a coach helps you learn family words faster. You can learn at your own speed, wherever you are.

Learning family words in Chinese helps you introduce your loved ones, join in friendly chats, and build real connections.

  • You talk about family all the time in daily life.

  • These words help you make friends and share stories.

Coachers.org gives you unlimited sessions and interactive tools, so you practice with expert coaches and get feedback right away. You learn at your own pace, wherever you are. Want to teach?

  1. Finish your training hours.

  2. Coach real clients.

  3. Complete mentor coaching.

  4. Apply to the ICF.

  5. Pass the knowledge test.

Ready to start? Start learning today!

FAQ

How do I remember Chinese family words faster?

Try using flashcards, drawing a family tree, or saying the words out loud every day. Practice with friends or your Coachers.org tutor. The more you use the words, the easier they stick!

What if I mix up family terms in conversation?

Don’t worry! Mistakes help you learn. If you use the wrong word, just try again. Your coach or friends will understand and help you. You’ll get better with practice.

Can I practice speaking with real people on Coachers.org?

Yes! You can join group or private sessions. You talk with real coaches and classmates. You get feedback and tips to improve your speaking skills.

Do I need to know Chinese characters to start?

No, you don’t. You can begin with pinyin and simple words. As you get comfortable, you can learn the characters. Coachers.org lets you learn at your own pace.

What makes Coachers.org different from other language apps?

Coachers.org gives you live coaching, personalized feedback, and unlimited practice. You learn with real people, not just an app. You can ask questions and get help anytime.

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