Chinese family terms

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How to find relations names in Cantonese?

This resource that can be used by all the family is really easy! Language learning starts at home and we've created this resource to help you find out how to address various family members using Cantonese.

The app works like a family tree. Start by choosing yourself. Then choose someone who is related to you. After that, choose someone who is related to that person. Keep going until you reach the person you want to talk about.

You can also select if they are older or younger than you as in some cases this may change the relative name, for example their are different words for "older brother" and "younger brother". Wherever it is possible, the tool will provide both the formal and the informal options. It will give the names with Jyutping too.

To find out what your mother’s (younger) brother is called in Cantonese Chinese, you would have to select You - Mother - Younger brother. If you wanted to know the same information about your father’s (older) sister, you would need to select You - Father - Older sister.

Using the example of your mother's younger brother, in Jyutping this would then tell you that kau5 fu6 is used when you are referring to him (your uncle) in a formal setting, such as if you were introduced to him by someone else. However, kau5 kau5 is used when you are referring to your mother's younger brother in an informal setting, such as if you were talking to a friend about him. 

Using the example of your father's older sister, in Cantonese this would be 姑母(gu1 mou5 in Jyutping).

For some relatives in Cantonese, selecting whether they are younger or older than you will make a difference. This is especially true for cousins.

This resource that can be used by all the family is really easy! Language learning starts at home and we've created this resource to help you find out how to address various family members using Cantonese.

The app works like a family tree. Start by choosing yourself. Then choose someone who is related to you. After that, choose someone who is related to that person. Keep going until you reach the person you want to talk about.

You can also select if they are older or younger than you as in some cases this may change the relative name, for example their are different words for "older brother" and "younger brother". Wherever it is possible, the tool will provide both the formal and the informal options. It will give the names with Jyutping too.

To find out what your mother’s (younger) brother is called in Cantonese Chinese, you would have to select You - Mother - Younger brother. If you wanted to know the same information about your father’s (older) sister, you would need to select You - Father - Older sister.

Using the example of your mother's younger brother, in Jyutping this would then tell you that kau5 fu6 is used when you are referring to him (your uncle) in a formal setting, such as if you were introduced to him by someone else. However, kau5 kau5 is used when you are referring to your mother's younger brother in an informal setting, such as if you were talking to a friend about him. 

Using the example of your father's older sister, in Cantonese this would be 姑母(gu1 mou5 in Jyutping).

For some relatives in Cantonese, selecting whether they are younger or older than you will make a difference. This is especially true for cousins.

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