NAMES FOR RELATIONSHIP IN CHINESE TRADITION (关系的称谓) - PATERNAL SIDE

The word “Family” is a very crucial point in the chinese tradition, so in this society a family relationsship is precisely distinguished and categorized in two parts: Paternal Side (male) and Maternal Side (female) or “Out Side”.

Why is the Maternal Side also pronounced as Outside? The Chinese Tradition regulate: that in a chinese marriage the bride is assumed as a new “entering daughter” for the bridegroom parents and their families. This bride does not “belong” anymore to her origin family.

As below listed are names in regarding to mentioning of families members from Paternal Side:

* Father´s grandfather 曾祖父 (zeng zufu) 太爷爷 (tai yeye) (Paternal)Grandfather

* Father´s grandmother 曾祖母 (zeng zumu) 太奶奶 (tai nainai) (Paternal)Grandmother

* Father’s father 祖父 (zufu) 爷爷 (yeye) Grandfather

* Father’s mother 祖母 (zumu) 奶奶 (nainai) Grandmother

* Father’s older brother 伯父 (bofu) 伯伯 (bobo) Uncle
*Wife 伯母 (bomu) 伯娘 (boniang) Aunt

* Father’s younger brother 叔父 (shufu) 叔叔 (shushu) Uncle
*Wife 婶母 (shenmu) Aunt

* Father’s older
sister (or married) 姑母 (gumu) 姑姑 (gugu) Aunt
*Husband 姑父 (gufu) 姑丈 (guzhang) Uncle

* Father’s younger
sister 姑姐 (gujie) 姑姑 (gugu) Aunt

* Son of father’s
brother older than ego 堂兄 (tangxiong) first cousin

* Son of father’s
brother younger than ego 堂弟 (tangdi) first cousin

* Wife of son of
father’s brother 堂嫂 (tangsao) first cousin in-law

* Daughter of father’s
brother older than ego 堂姐 (tangjie) 堂姊 (tangzi) first cousin

* Daughter of father’s
brother younger than ego 堂妹 (tangmei) first cousin

* Son of father’s
sister older than ego 表兄 (biaoxiong) 表哥 (biaoge) first cousin

* Son of father’s
sister younger than ego 表弟 (biaodi) 姑表弟 (gu biaodi) first cousin

* Daughter of father’s
sister older than ego 表姊 (biaozi) 表姐 (biaojie) first cousin

* Daughter of father’s
sister younger than ego 表妹 (biaomei) 姑表妹 (gu biaomei) first cousin