Sheiwen Aglibot
, October 7, 2022

5 Groups Of Important Cantonese Vocabulary For Family

What does a typical family in Cantonese culture look like? Hong Kongers are family-oriented. Most of the families in this country live in nuclear families because of the high cost of living spaces in Hong Kong. But, what’s fantastic about them is they still maintain the traditional Chinese concepts like family solidarity and family glory even though there are many influences from Western culture.

Hong Kongers’ family culture is guided by filial piety, which is common for most Southeast Asian countries. In this culture, hierarchal seniority is determined by age which means, all the family members are expected to show respect to their elders. In fact, they pay respect to their ancestors at least twice a year. There are different ways to pay respect to elders, and one of them is through language. So, let us learn this Cantonese vocabulary for family (家庭 gaa1 ting4).

Family Members In Cantonese

Just like in another culture, each family members in the Cantonese culture have their own responsibilities. But, the Cantonese family tree is more complicated than other cultures. It may be very daunting to learn at first, but once you’ve got to practice it yourself, you’ll understand it better. What can be confusing at first is that Cantonese terms differ from the maternal or paternal side. But, you don’t have to worry because the terms you’ll learn below have English translations that will help you get through.

You also don’t have to memorize every Cantonese vocabulary for a family written in this post if you are not marrying a local or have a close friend who practices this culture. Instead, you may start learning about the nuclear family and consider other relatives as a bonus.

Cantonese Family Tree

1. 父母 (Fu6 Mou5) – Parents

Parents are the heart of every family. Traditionally, the father is the main provider and the head of the family, while the mother takes care of the household. But, in these modern times, women have proven their place in society, so many families in Hong Kong hire a maid to do the house chores while both parents are working.

So, if you want to learn the Cantonese vocabulary for family related to parents, please refer to the words below:

Father

Cantonese	Pinyin	English Translation
父親	fu6 can1	Father (formal- written)
爸爸	baa4 baa1	Father (less formal – both written and spoken)

Mother

Cantonese	Pinyin	English Translation
母親	mou5 can1	Mother (formal written)
媽媽	maa4 maa1	Mother (less formal both written and spoken)

2. 孩子 (Haai4 Zi2) (FormalWritten) – Children

Children are expected to be respectful and obedient to their parents. Because parents want their children to succeed in life, they provide their children a quality education. So, if you want to learn Cantonese vocabulary for family related to children, create a room in your mind for these words:

Cantonese	Pinyin	English Translation
小朋友	siu2 pang4 jau5	Children (less formal both written and spoken)
仔女	zai2 neoi2	Children less formal both written and spoken)
兄弟姊妹	hing1 dai6 zi2 mui6	Siblings

Son, Younger Brother, Elder Brother, Grandson,

Cantonese	Pinyin	English Translation
仔	zai2	Son
哥哥	go4 go1	Elder brother
弟弟	dai4 dai2	Younger brother
孫仔	syun1 zai2	Grandson (son’s son)
外孫	ngoi6 syun1	Grandson (daughter’s son)

Daughter, Younger Sister, Elder Sister, Granddaughter

Cantonese	Pinyin	English Translation
女	neoi2	Daughter
姐姐	ze4 ze1	Elder sister
妹妹	mui4 mui2	Younger sister
孫女	syun1 neoi2	Granddaughter (son’s daughter)
外孫女	ngoi6 syun1 neoi2	Granddaughter (daughter’s daughter)

3. Grandparents

Just like what is written above, Cantonese culture is rooted in the Confucian belief – filial piety. Other family members respect Elders. This is also why sending grandparents to the home for the aged is not a practice in Cantonese culture. Elders are expected to be treated with respect, love, and kindness by the family for a lifetime. So, here’s the Cantonese vocabulary for family related to grandparents that you need to know.

Grandfather

Cantonese	Pinyin	English Translation
爺爺	je4 je2	Grandfather (father’s father)
公公	gung4 gung1	Grandfather (mother’s father)
外公	ngoi6 gung1	Grandfather (mother’s father)

Grandmother

Cantonese	Pinyin	English Translation
嫲嫲	maa4 maa4	Grandmother (father’s mother)
婆婆	po4 po2	Grandmother (mother’s mother)
外婆	ngoi6 po4	Grandmother (mother’s mother)

4. Relatives (親戚 chānchìk)

Relatives are also valued in the family. Although most Hong Kongers usually live with the nuclear family, the extended family is still important for them as they believe in the concept of family glory. So you’ll bring your family’s reputation to everything you do. This is the part mentioned above where terms depend on the maternal or paternal side.

Brace yourself with more Cantonese vocabulary for family. Of course, this would not be that useful when you’re just traveling, but it would still be great if you have an idea about this.

Cantonese	Pinyin	English Translation
姨姨	ji1 ji1	Aunt (general)
姨媽	ji4 maa1	Aunt (mother’s elder sister)
阿姨	aa3 ji1	Aunt (mother’s younger sister)
舅母	kau5 mou5	Aunt (mother’s brother’s wife)
姑媽	gu1 maa1	Aunt (father’s elder sister)
姑姐	gu1 ze1	Aunt (father’s younger sister)
伯娘	baak3 noeng4	Aunt (father’s elder brother’s wife)
阿嬸	aa3 sam2	Aunt (father’s younger brother’s wife)
叔叔	suk1 suk1	Uncle (general)
舅父	kau5 fu2	Uncle (mother’s brother)
姨丈	ji4 zoeng2	Uncle (mother’s sister’s husband)
伯父	baak3 fu6	Uncle (father’s elder brother)
叔父	suk1 fu6 Uncle	(father’s younger brother)
姑丈	gu1 zoeng2	Uncle (father’s sister’s husband)
侄	zat6	Nephew (brother’s son)
外甥	ngoi6 saang1	Nephew (sister’s son)
侄女	zat6 neoi2	Niece (brother’s daughter)
外甥女	ngoi6 saang1 neoi2	Niece (sister’s daughter)
堂阿哥	tong4 aa3 go1	Elder male cousin (father’s side)
表哥	biu2 go1	Elder male cousin (mother’s side)
堂細佬	tong4 sai3 lou2	Younger male cousin (father’s side)
表弟	biu2 dai2	Younger male cousin (mother’s side)
堂家姐	tong4 gaa1 ze1	Elder female cousin (father’s side)
表姐	biu2 ze2	Elder female cousin (mother’s side)
堂細妹	tong4 sai3 mui2	Younger female cousin (father’s side)
表妹	biu2 mui2	Younger female cousin (mother’s side)

5. Terms For Married Couple (夫婦 fu1 fu5)

Last but not least are the terms for married people. Marriage is important in Cantonese culture. Their beliefs and traditions are rooted in the traditional Chinese culture, wherein they believe that family is the most important thing in life. So if you marry someone, you will not only marry that person but their whole family. You have to respect them the way you respect yours. So if you are planning to marry a local, it is essential to learn Cantonese vocabulary for families related to married people.

Cantonese	Pinyin	English Translation
配偶	pui3 ngau5	Spouse
先生	sin1 saang1	Husband
丈夫	zoeng6 fu1	Husband
太太	taai3 taai2	Wife
妻子	cai1 zi2	Wife
奶奶	naai4 naai2	Mother-in-law (husband’s mother)
外母	ngoi6 mou2	Mother-in-law (wife’s mother)
老爺	lou5 je4	Father-in-law (husband’s father)
外父	ngoi6 fu2	Father-in-law (wife’s father)
女婿	neoi5 sai3	Son-in-law
新抱	san1 pou5	Daughter-in-law
阿嫂	aa3 sou2	Sister-in-law (elder brother’s wife)
弟婦	dai6 fu5	Sister-in-law (younger brother’s wife)
姑奶	gu1 naai1	Sister-in-law (husband’s elder sister)
姑仔	gu1 zai2	Sister-in-law (husband’s younger sister)
大姨	daai6 ji1	Sister-in-law (wife’s elder sister)
姨仔	ji1 zai2	Sister-in-law (wife’s younger sister)
姐夫	ze2 fu1	Brother-in-law (elder sister’s husband)
妹夫	mui6 fu1	Brother-in-law (younger sister’s husband)
大舅	daai6 kau5	Brother-in-law (husband’s elder brother)
舅仔	kau5 zai2	Brother-in-law (husband’s younger brother)
大伯	daai6 baak3	Brother-in-law (wife’s elder brother)
叔仔	suk1 zai2	Brother-in-law (wife’s younger brother)

Words And Phares Related To Family

Now that you have learned the Cantonese vocabulary for family, you are now ready to use those in sentences for better pronunciation. Here are some sentences you can use to practice your spoken language about Cantonese vocabulary for family.

Cantonese	Pinyin	English Translation
我哋一家四口。	ngo5 dei6 yat1 ga1 sei3 hau2。	We are a family of four.
呢位係我爸爸。	ne1 wai2 hai6 ngo5 ba4 ba1。	This is my father.
呢位係我媽媽。	ne1 wai2 hai6 ngo5 ma4 ma1	This is my mother.
呢個係你個仔。	ne1 go3 hai6 nei5 go3 jai2。	That is your son.
呢個係你個女。	ne1 go3 hai6 nei5 go3 neui5。	That is your daughter.
佢係我大佬	keoi5 hai6 ngo5 daai6 lou2	He is my elder brother.
我妹妹去咗英國留學。	ngo5 mui6 mui2 heoi3 zo2 jing1 gwok3 lau4 hok6.	My younger sister went to England to study abroad.
我哋係老公老婆	ngo5 dei2 hai6 lou5 gung1 lou5 po4	We are husband and wife.

Going On A Trip To Hong Kong? Learn Cantonese Now!

Hong Kong is a place where you can bring your whole family, from youngest to oldest, to enjoy. So if you are planning a trip to this country, make sure to back yourself up with Cantonese phrases like basic words and phrases, travel phrases, saying ‘Thank You’ and saying ‘Sorry.’ Not only will it make your travel smoother but you’ll also have the opportunity to connect with the locals and understand their culture better. But, how will you do that? It’s easy, learn Cantonese with Ling App.

Ling App is a language learning app developed to help language learners learn languages conveniently and more fun. If you often bring a dictionary with you, with Ling App, you don’t have to because everything can be learned as long as you have a phone/computer and internet connection. Vocabulary words are arranged like flashcards with audio recordings from native speakers.