We Are Family

The great thing about Chinese family relationship titles, is that with one single phrase or word, you immediately know if they are from your paternal or maternal family; their status and whether they are related to you by blood or by marriage.

Some useful kinship titles (informal Cantonese/Hakka pronounciation): 

Paternal Great Uncle (Grandfather's Younger Brother) 叔公 / Suk Gung
Paternal Great Uncle's Wife (Grandfather's Younger Brother's Wife) 叔婆 / Suk Por

Paternal Grandfather 爺爺 / Yeah Yeah
Paternal Grandmother 嬤嬤 / Mar Mar

Maternal Granfather 公公 / Gung Gung
Maternal Grandmother 婆婆 / Por Por

Father 爸爸 / Baa Baa
Mother 媽媽  / Ma Ma

Paternal Older Uncle (Father's Older Brother) 伯伯 / Baak Baak
Paternal Older Uncle's Wife (Father's Older Brother's Wife) 伯娘 / Baak Leung

Paternal Younger Uncle (Father's Younger Brother) 叔叔 / Suk Suk
Paternal Younger Uncle's Wife (Father's Younger Brother's Wife) 嬸嬸 / Sum Sum

Paternal Younger Aunt (Father's Younger Sister) 姑姐 / Goo Jer
Paternal Younger Aunt's Husband (Father's Younger Sister's Husband) 姑丈 / Goo Jeurng

Maternal Uncle (Mother's Brother) 舅父 / Kau Fu
Maternal Uncle's Wife (Mother's Brother's Wife) 舅母 / Kau Mou

Maternal Older Aunt (Mother's Older Sister) 大姨 / Dai Yee
Maternal Older Aunt's Husband (Mother's Older Sister's Husband) 大姨丈 / Dai Yee Jeurng

Maternal Younger Aunt (Mother's Younger Sister) 姨 / Yi
Maternal Younger Aunt's Husband (Mother's Younger Sister's Husband) 姨丈

Younger Sister 妹妹 / Mui Mui
Younger Sister's Husband 妹夫 / Mui Foo

Maternal Elder Male Cousin 表哥 / Biu Gor
Maternal Elder Male Cousin's Wife 表嫂 / Biu Sou

Maternal Younger Male Cousin  表弟 / Biu Dai
Maternal Younger Male Cousin's Wife 表夫 / Biu Foo

Maternal Elder Female Cousin 表姐 / Biu Jer
Maternal Elder Female Cousin's Husband 表姐夫 / Biu Jer Foo

Maternal Younger Female Cousin 表妹 / Biu Mui
Younger Female Cousin's Husband 表妹夫 / Biu Mui Foo

Paternal Elder Female Cousin 堂家姐 / Tong Gar Jer

Paternal Younger Female Cousin 堂細妹 / Tong Sai Mui

Paternal Elder Male Cousin 堂阿哥 / Tong Ah Gor

Paternal Younger Male Cousin 堂細佬 / Tong Sai Low

* Maternal = Mothers side.
* Paternal = Fathers side.
* This post was inspired by my large and complicated family and this website.