Community, Kwentong Chinoy

Hokkien and Chinese Vocabulary Words For Addressing Family Members

Important Chinese Vocabulary Words To Address Family Members Article Banner

Hokkien and Chinese Vocabulary Words For Addressing Family Members

Chinoy families, consisting of Chinese immigrants or descendants of Chinese immigrants who settled in the Philippines live in the cusp of Chinese and Filipino cultures. There’s no telling where one culture ends and another one begins; hence the fusion of cultures and the production of new subcultures – Chinoy.

It is evident in their customs, cuisine, and especially their language and how they address family members. Families hold a very important role in Chinoy culture, and understanding the intricate network of familial relationships in the Chinese family tree requires more than just knowing your Chinese vocabulary, it requires an understanding of the values passed down through generations.

Chinese family relations extend beyond words, and encompass a rich tapestry of cultural expressions and traditions. It bridges generations and continents, offering insights into the nuanced dynamics of Chinoy households and their enduring ties to both Chinese heritage and Filipino roots. This linguistic and cultural fusion underscores the unique identity of Chinoy families, where everyday conversations echo with the echoes of centuries-old traditions.

In this guide to Chinese family vocabulary, we’ll help you navigate the intricate network of familial relationships within Chinoy families, blending Chinese heritage with Filipino culture in everyday conversations and family gatherings.

A Guide to the Chinese Family Tree

Understanding the Chinese family structure involves knowing the specific words used to address different family members. These words signify respect and denote the generational hierarchy within the family. Here’s a list of Chinese vocabulary you can use to address family members in Hokkien and Mandarin:

Immediate Family

The immediate family includes parents, siblings, and children. In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on filial piety, with specific terms such as “older brother” in the Chinese language that reflect the generational hierarchy.

English Tagalog Hokkien Mandarin
Mother / Mama / Mom Nanay 媽媽 mâ-mâ / 老母 lǎu-bú 媽媽 māma / 母亲 mǔqin
Father / Papa / Dad Tatay 爸爸 pâ-pâ / 老爸 lǎu-pě 爸爸 bàba / 父亲 fùqin
Eldest Sister Ate 阿姊 á-chí 姐姐 jiějie
Second Eldest Sister Ditse 二姊 lī-chí  二姐 èrjiě
Third Eldest Sister Sanse 三姊 saⁿ-chí 三姐 sānjiě
Eldest Brother Kuya 阿兄 a-hiaⁿ / 哥仔 ko–á 哥哥 gēge
Second Eldest Brother Kuya 二兄 lī-hiaⁿ / 二哥 lī-ko 二哥 èrgē
Third Eldest Brother Sangko 三兄 saⁿ-hiaⁿ / 三哥 saⁿ-ko 三哥 sāngē
Younger Sister Bunso / Nene 小妹 sió-bē 妹妹 mèimei
Younger Brother Bunso / Totoy 小弟 sió-tǐ 弟弟 dìdi
Your Wife Asawa 太太 thài-thià / 某 bó͘  老婆 lǎopó / 妻子 qīzi
Your Husband Asawa 丈夫 tiǒng-hu / 翁 ang 老公 lǎogōng / 丈夫 zhàngfu
Daughter Anak 查某仔 cha-bó͘-á 女兒 nǚ’ér
Son Anak 囝 káⁿ (kiáⁿ) / 後生 hau-siⁿ   兒子 érzi

HOKKIEN TRANSLATIONS BY 陳立法 | @HEY.JUDSON ON IG

Second Degree Relatives – Mother Side

Beyond knowing how to address your immediate family in Chinese, you should also know how to show respect to your extended family.. Second-degree relatives play an important role in Chinoy culture. Below, you’ll learn how to address extended family on your mother’s side in Hokkien and Mandarin.

English Tagalog Hokkien Mandarin
Maternal Grandmother Lola 外媽 gōa-má 外婆 wàipó
Maternal Grandfather Lolo 外公 gōa-kong 外公 wàigōng
Maternal Aunt Tita 阿姨 á-î  姨母 yímǔ
Maternal Aunt’s Husband Tito 姨丈 î-tiǔⁿ 姨父 yífu
Maternal Uncle Tito 阿舅 á-kǔ 舅舅 jiùjiu
Maternal Uncle’s Wife Tita 阿妗 á-kǐm 舅母 jiùmu
Older Female Maternal Cousin Pinsan 表阿姊 piáu-á-chí 表姐 biǎojiě
Younger Female Maternal Cousin Pinsan 表小妹 piáu-sió-bē 表妹 biǎomèi
Older Male Maternal Cousin Pinsan 表阿兄 piáu-á-hiaⁿ 表哥 biǎogē
Younger Male Maternal Cousin Pinsan 表小弟 piáu-sió-tǐ 表弟 biǎodì
Sororal Niece Pamangkin 外甥女 gōe-sng-lú 外甥女 wàishengnǚ
Sororal Nephew Pamangkin 外甥 gōe-sng 外甥 wàisheng

HOKKIEN TRANSLATIONS BY 陳立法 | @HEY.JUDSON ON IG

Second Degree Relatives – Father Side

As you have relatives on your mother’s side, so do you on your father’s side. But to denote which side of your family they’re on, there is a different way to address them. Below are the words you’ll use when addressing relatives on your father’s side. Try not to mix things up so you can properly show your respect and converse with ease!

English Tagalog Hokkien Mandarin
Paternal Grandmother Lola 阿媽 a-má 奶奶 nǎinai
Paternal Grandfather Lolo 俺公 án-kong 爷爷 yéye
Paternal Aunt (Father’s Elder Sister) Tita 阿姑 á-ko͘ 姑母 gūmǔ
Paternal Aunt’s (Father’s Elder Sister) Husband Tito 姑丈 ko͘-tiǔⁿ 姑父 gūfu
Paternal Uncle (Father’s Elder Brother) Tito 阿伯 á-peh 伯父 bófù
Paternal Uncle’s (Father’s Elder Brother)

 Wife

Tita 阿姆 á-ḿ 伯母 bómǔ
Paternal Uncle (Father’s Younger Brother) Tito 阿叔 á-chiak (á-chek) 叔叔 shūshu
Paternal Uncle’s (Father’s Younger Brother) Wife Tita 阿嬸 á-chím 婶婶 shěnshen
Paternal Aunt’s Daughter

(older cousin)

Pinsan 表阿姊 piáu-á-chí 表姐 biǎojiě
Paternal Aunt’s Daughter 

(younger cousin)

Pinsan 表小妹 piáu-sió-bē 表妹 biǎomèi
Paternal Aunt’s Son

(older cousin)

Pinsan 表阿兄 piáu-á-hiaⁿ 表哥 biǎogē
Paternal Aunt’s Son

(younger cousin)

Pinsan 表小弟 piáu-sió-tǐ 表弟 biǎodì
Paternal Uncle’s Daughter 

(older cousin)

Pinsan 隔腹阿姊 keh-pak-á-chí 堂姐 tángjiě
Paternal Uncle’s Daughter 

(younger cousin)

Pinsan 隔腹小妹 keh-pak-sió-bē 堂妹 tángmèi
Paternal Uncle’s Son 

(older cousin)

Pinsan 隔腹阿兄 keh-pak-á-hiaⁿ 堂哥 tánggē
Paternal Uncle’s Son 

(younger cousin)

Pinsan 隔腹小弟 keh-pak-sió-tǐ 堂弟 tángdì
Fraternal Niece Pamangkin 姪女 ti̍t-lú 侄女 zhínǚ
Fraternal Nephew Pamangkin 姪仔 ti̍t-á 侄子 zhízi

HOKKIEN TRANSLATIONS BY 陳立法 | @HEY.JUDSON ON IG

Final Thoughts

Knowing the right way to address different family members is a crucial part of mastering Chinese vocabulary. Not only will it foster deeper connections, they also help maintain the values that have been cherished and passed on for generations. Such values include the importance of family relationships in Chinese culture, filial piety, and honoring ancestors.

Whether you’re part of a Chinoy family or simply interested in their culture, language, and traditions, it helps to learn about Chinese vocabulary and the nuances behind them to gain a richer understanding of the vibrant cultural tapestry of Chinoy culture. 

Leave a Reply