What Do I Call This Relative?

Quick Reference: Common Chinese Kinship Terms

Relationship	Chinese	Pinyin
Father's older brother	伯父	bófù
Father's younger brother	叔叔	shūshu
Father's sister	姑姑	gūgu
Mother's brother	舅舅	jiùjiu
Mother's sister	姨妈	yímā
Paternal grandfather	爷爷	yéye
Paternal grandmother	奶奶	nǎinai
Maternal grandfather	外公	wàigōng
Maternal grandmother	外婆	wàipó
Paternal cousin (older male)	堂哥	tánggē
Paternal cousin (older female)	堂姐	tángjiě
Maternal cousin (older male)	表哥	biǎogē
Maternal cousin (older female)	表姐	biǎojiě
Husband's father	公公	gōnggong
Husband's mother	婆婆	pópo
Wife's father	岳父	yuèfù
Wife's mother	岳母	yuèmǔ

Why does Chinese have so many kinship terms?

English uses "aunt" for four different people. Chinese is precise: 伯母 (father's older brother's wife) ≠ 婶婶 (father's younger brother's wife) ≠ 姑姑 (father's sister) ≠ 姨妈 (mother's sister).

This matters because Confucian family ethics assign specific duties and forms of address to each relationship. Getting the title wrong signals that you don't know your place in the family hierarchy — a significant social misstep.

Key distinction: 堂 (táng) cousins share the father's surname (paternal side). 表 (biǎo) cousins are on the maternal side. Only 堂 relatives are considered "inside the family" (家里人) in traditional culture.