Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar

NameS, kiNShiP termS, titleS, aNd termS oF addreSS

22.2

characteristic. Thus, brothers might be named 亦豪 Yì Háo (talent) and 亦强/亦強 Yì Qiáng

(strength). Sisters might be named 颖怡/穎怡 Yǐng Yí ( joyful) and 颖美/穎美 Yǐng Měi

(beautiful).

Modern naming practice often does not include a generational name. This is especially common

in mainland China. Instead, given names reflect positive attributes, and may be one or two

syllables in length.

Given names are personal and somewhat private. In general, they are only used as terms

of address by good friends and close acquaintances, and in closed settings such as a family,

classroom, or office, where people are members of a well-defined group. Often, people use

kinship terms and titles rather than names when addressing and referring to others.

22.2 Kinship terms

Here are the most commonly used kinship terms and the distinctions that they reflect.

22.2.1 kinship terms for immediate family

Male Female

父亲/父親 fùqin father 母亲/母親 mǔqīn mother

爸爸 bàba dad 妈妈/媽媽 māma mom

哥哥 gēge brother older

than self

姐姐 jiějie sister older

than self

弟弟 dìdi brother younger

than self

妹妹 mèimei sister younger

than self

The reference point for siblings is oneself. For example, an older brother is a brother older than

oneself. If you are male and have an older brother and a younger brother, then your younger

brother has two older brothers.

Your family from your perspective

我有一个哥哥、一个弟弟。

我有一個哥哥、一個弟弟。

Wǒ yǒu yī gè gēge, yī gè dìdi.

I have one older brother and one younger brother.

Your family from your younger brother’s perspective

我有两个哥哥，没有弟弟。

我有兩個哥哥，沒有弟弟。

Wǒ yǒu liǎng gè gēge, méi yǒu dìdi.

I have two older brothers and no younger brother.