Chinese kinship terminology is complex — uncle from father's side vs. mother's side, paternal vs. maternal cousins all have distinct titles. Step through relationships from "me" to get the correct term.
Relationship Path
MeSelect a relationship below to start...
Starting from me, pick the first relative
How to use
- • Start from "Me" and click relationship buttons step by step
- • The preview below each button shows the resulting term
- • Blue buttons are male relatives; pink buttons are female
- • "Back" undoes the last step; "Reset" starts over
- • Paternal cousins (堂亲) and maternal cousins (表亲) have different terms
📖 Common Kinship Terms
伯父 vs 叔父
Father's older brother = 伯父 (bó fù); father's younger brother = 叔父 (shū fù)
堂亲 vs 表亲
Paternal cousins (father's brother's children) = 堂亲; maternal or paternal-aunt cousins = 表亲
姑姑 vs 阿姨
Father's sister = 姑姑 (gū gu); mother's sister = 阿姨 (ā yí)
侄子 vs 外甥
Brother's son = 侄子 (zhí zi); sister's son = 外甥 (wài sheng)
孙子 vs 外孙
Son's son = 孙子 (sūn zi); daughter's son = 外孙 (wài sūn)
公公 vs 岳父
Husband's father = 公公 (gōng gong); wife's father = 岳父 (yuè fù)