Chinese kin

Chinese kin is a way to describe your family members and their relationships to each other. Think of it like a big puzzle where each piece represents a family member and how they fit together.

Let’s start with the basic pieces: your mom and dad. In Chinese kin, we call them “mama” and “baba.” Mama and baba are also known as the “parents” piece of the puzzle.

Now let’s add in your grandparents. Your mom’s parents are called “wai-gong” and “wai-po,” while your dad’s parents are called “ye-ye” and “nai-nai.” That’s 4 new puzzle pieces!

Next, we have to figure out how everyone is related to each other. Your mom’s brother is your “shu-uncle,” and your dad’s sister is your “gu-aunt.” If your mom has a sister, she’s your “shen-shen.” Your dad’s brother is your “jio-uncle.”

Finally, we can add in cousins. Your mom’s brother’s child is your “shu-cousin.” Your dad’s sister’s child is your “gu-cousin.”

So, to summarize:

- Mama – Your mom
- Baba – Your dad
- Wai-gong – Your mom’s dad
- Wai-po – Your mom’s mom
- Ye-ye – Your dad’s dad
- Nai-nai – Your dad’s mom
- Shu-uncle – Your mom’s brother
- Gu-aunt – Your dad’s sister
- Shen-shen – Your mom’s sister
- Jio-uncle – Your dad’s brother
- Shu-cousin – Your mom’s brother’s child
- Gu-cousin – Your dad’s sister’s child

It may seem confusing at first, but just remember that Chinese kin is a way to describe your family members and their relationships to each other. And just like a puzzle, with a little practice and repetition, you’ll get the hang of it in no time!