Language/Yue-chinese/Vocabulary/Family-Members
| ◀️ Possessive Pronouns — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Relationships ▶️ |
In this lesson, we will explore the vocabulary for family members in Yue Chinese. Family is an important aspect of Chinese culture, and understanding these terms will help you communicate effectively with native speakers. We will cover a wide range of family members, including immediate family and extended family. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently talk about your family and understand the relationships between different family members.
Immediate Family[edit | edit source]
Let's start by learning the vocabulary for immediate family members in Yue Chinese. These are the people who are closest to you and play a significant role in your life.
Father[edit | edit source]
In Yue Chinese, the word for father is 爸爸 (baa1 baa1). It is pronounced as "baa baa" in English. This term is used to refer to your own father.
Mother[edit | edit source]
The word for mother in Yue Chinese is 媽媽 (maa1 maa1). It is pronounced as "maa maa" in English. This term is used to refer to your own mother.
Grandfather[edit | edit source]
The term for grandfather in Yue Chinese is 爺爺 (je4 je4). It is pronounced as "je je" in English.
Grandmother[edit | edit source]
The term for grandmother in Yue Chinese is 婆婆 (po4 po4). It is pronounced as "po po" in English.
Son[edit | edit source]
The word for son in Yue Chinese is 兒子 (ji4 zi2). It is pronounced as "ji zi" in English. This term is used to refer to your own son.
Daughter[edit | edit source]
The term for daughter in Yue Chinese is 女兒 (neoi5 ji4). It is pronounced as "neoi ji" in English. This term is used to refer to your own daughter.
Older Brother[edit | edit source]
In Yue Chinese, the term for older brother is 哥哥 (go1 go1). It is pronounced as "go go" in English.
Younger Brother[edit | edit source]
The term for younger brother in Yue Chinese is 弟弟 (dai6 dai6). It is pronounced as "dai dai" in English.
Older Sister[edit | edit source]
The word for older sister in Yue Chinese is 姐姐 (ze2 ze2). It is pronounced as "ze ze" in English.
Younger Sister[edit | edit source]
The term for younger sister in Yue Chinese is 妹妹 (mui6 mui6). It is pronounced as "mui mui" in English.
Husband[edit | edit source]
The word for husband in Yue Chinese is 丈夫 (zoeng6 fu1). It is pronounced as "zoeng fu" in English.
Wife[edit | edit source]
The term for wife in Yue Chinese is 妻子 (cai1 zi2). It is pronounced as "cai zi" in English.
Extended Family[edit | edit source]
Now let's move on to the vocabulary for extended family members in Yue Chinese. These are relatives who are not part of your immediate family but are still an important part of your life.
Grandson[edit | edit source]
The term for grandson in Yue Chinese is 孫子 (syun1 zi2). It is pronounced as "syun zi" in English.
Granddaughter[edit | edit source]
The word for granddaughter in Yue Chinese is 孫女 (syun1 neoi5). It is pronounced as "syun neoi" in English.
Uncle[edit | edit source]
In Yue Chinese, the term for uncle is 舅舅 (gau6 gau6). It is pronounced as "gau gau" in English.
Aunt[edit | edit source]
The term for aunt in Yue Chinese is 姑姑 (gu1 gu1). It is pronounced as "gu gu" in English.
Cousin[edit | edit source]
The word for cousin in Yue Chinese is 表哥/表弟/表姐/表妹 (biu2 go1/biu2 dai6/biu2 ze2/biu2 mui6). These terms are used to refer to male cousins, female cousins, older female cousins, and younger female cousins, respectively.
Nephew[edit | edit source]
The term for nephew in Yue Chinese is 侄兒 (zat1 ji4). It is pronounced as "zat ji" in English.
Niece[edit | edit source]
The word for niece in Yue Chinese is 侄女 (zat1 neoi5). It is pronounced as "zat neoi" in English.
Father-in-law[edit | edit source]
In Yue Chinese, the term for father-in-law is 公公 (gung1 gung1). It is pronounced as "gung gung" in English.
Mother-in-law[edit | edit source]
The term for mother-in-law in Yue Chinese is 婆婆 (po4 po4). It is pronounced as "po po" in English.
Brother-in-law[edit | edit source]
The word for brother-in-law in Yue Chinese is 兄弟 (hing1 dai6). It is pronounced as "hing dai" in English.
Sister-in-law[edit | edit source]
The term for sister-in-law in Yue Chinese is 嫂子 (sou3 zi2). It is pronounced as "sou zi" in English.
Son-in-law[edit | edit source]
In Yue Chinese, the term for son-in-law is 婿子 (seoi6 zi2). It is pronounced as "seoi zi" in English.
Daughter-in-law[edit | edit source]
The term for daughter-in-law in Yue Chinese is 媳婦 (sik1 fu1). It is pronounced as "sik fu" in English.
Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]
In Chinese culture, family is highly valued, and the importance of family members is deeply ingrained in society. The concept of filial piety, or respect for one's parents and elders, is especially significant. Family members are expected to support and care for each other, and the ties between relatives are often strong.
It is common for multiple generations to live together under one roof, with grandparents, parents, and children all sharing the same household. This arrangement allows for closer familial bonds and the passing down of family traditions and values.
In some regions of China, there are specific terms used to address family members that may differ from standard Mandarin. For example, in Cantonese-speaking regions, the term for father is "baa" instead of "ba" in standard Mandarin. These regional variations reflect the diversity of Chinese culture and language.
Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now let's practice what we have learned. Translate the following English sentences into Yue Chinese.
1. My father is a doctor. 2. How many siblings do you have? 3. Is your grandmother still alive? 4. I have two sons and one daughter. 5. Do you have any cousins?
Solution: 1. 我爸爸係醫生。 (ngo5 baa1 baa1 hai6 ji1 sang1) 2. 你有幾個兄弟姐妹？ (nei5 jau5 gei2 go3 hing1 dai6 ze2 mui6?) 3. 你婆婆仲健在嗎？ (nei5 po4 po4 zung6 gin6 zoi6 maa1?) 4. 我有兩個兒子同埋一個女兒。 (ngo5 jau5 loeng5 go3 ji4 zi2 tung4 maai4 jat1 go3 neoi5 ji4) 5. 你有冇表兄弟姊妹？ (nei5 jau5 mou5 biu2 hing1 dai6 ze2 mui6?)
Explanation: 1. The sentence structure in Yue Chinese is similar to English. "我爸爸係醫生" translates to "My father is a doctor." The word "我" (ngo5) means "I" or "my," "爸爸" (baa1 baa1) means "father," and "係" (hai6) is used to indicate occupation or role. "醫生" (ji1 sang1) means "doctor."
2. To ask someone how many siblings they have, you can say "你有幾個兄弟姐妹？" (nei5 jau5 gei2 go3 hing1 dai6 ze2 mui6?). "你" (nei5) means "you," "有" (jau5) means "have," "幾個" (gei2 go3) means "how many," and "兄弟姐妹" (hing1 dai6 ze2 mui6) means "siblings."
3. To ask if someone's grandmother is still alive, you can say "你婆婆仲健在嗎？" (nei5 po4 po4 zung6 gin6 zoi6 maa1?). "仲" (zung6) is used to indicate "still," and "健在" (gin6 zoi6) means "alive."
4. The sentence "I have two sons and one daughter" can be translated as "我有兩個兒子同埋一個女兒" (ngo5 jau5 loeng5 go3 ji4 zi2 tung4 maai4 jat1 go3 neoi5 ji4). "同埋" (tung4 maai4) means "and" or "with."
5. To ask if someone has any cousins, you can say "你有冇表兄弟姊妹？" (nei5 jau5 mou5 biu2 hing1 dai6 ze2 mui6?). "冇" (mou5) means "any" or "none."
Remember to practice these sentences with a native speaker to improve your pronunciation and fluency in Yue Chinese.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we have covered the vocabulary for family members in Yue Chinese. Family is an essential part of Chinese culture, and understanding these terms will help you connect with native speakers and navigate social situations. We have learned the words for immediate family members, such as father, mother, brother, and sister, as well as extended family members like grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Remember to practice these words and phrases regularly to improve your language skills. Keep up the good work, and soon you will be able to confidently talk about your family in Yue Chinese!
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- How to say Good Bye?
- Feelings and Emotions
- Food
- Countries 國家
- Eating Out
- Transportation
- Animals
- Education Vocabulary
- Comprehensive Review
- Social Media and the Internet
| ◀️ Possessive Pronouns — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Relationships ▶️ |