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The Chinese family tree is a traditional framework for understanding relationships and addressing relatives with proper titles. It emphasizes respect for hierarchy and kinship, differentiating relatives based on their age, gender, and whether they are on the paternal or maternal side. Key components include specific titles for grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and immediate family members. The structure serves as a guide during events like Chinese New Year, where correct terms of address are important for fostering harmony and honoring cultural values.

Here’s a detailed Chinese family tree with the common terms of address based on traditional customs:

Father’s Side (Paternal Relatives)

1. 祖父 (Zǔfù): Grandfather (Father’s father)
2. 祖母 (Zǔmǔ): Grandmother (Father’s mother)
3. 伯父 (Bófù): Elder Uncle (Father’s elder brother)
4. 伯母 (Bómǔ): Elder Uncle’s wife
5. 叔叔 (Shūshu): Younger Uncle (Father’s younger brother)
6. 婶婶 (Shěnshen): Younger Uncle’s wife
7. 姑姑/姑妈 (Gūgu/Gūmā): Aunt (Father’s sister)
8. 姑丈 (Gūzhàng): Aunt’s husband
9. 堂兄 (Tángxiōng): Elder Male Cousin (Father’s brother’s children)
10. 堂弟 (Tángdì): Younger Male Cousin (Father’s brother’s children)
11. 堂姐 (Tángjiě): Elder Female Cousin (Father’s brother’s children)
12. 堂妹 (Tángmèi): Younger Female Cousin (Father’s brother’s children)

Mother’s Side (Maternal Relatives)

1. 外公 (Wàigōng): Grandfather (Mother’s father)
2. 外婆 (Wàipó): Grandmother (Mother’s mother)
3. 舅舅 (Jiùjiu): Uncle (Mother’s brother)
4. 舅妈 (Jiùmā): Uncle’s wife
5. 姨妈 (Yímā): Aunt (Mother’s elder sister)
6. 姨丈 (Yízhàng): Aunt’s husband
7. 小姨 (Xiǎoyí): Younger Aunt (Mother’s younger sister)
8. 表哥 (Biǎogē): Elder Male Cousin (Mother’s siblings’ children)
9. 表弟 (Biǎodì): Younger Male Cousin (Mother’s siblings’ children)
10. 表姐 (Biǎojiě): Elder Female Cousin (Mother’s siblings’ children)
11. 表妹 (Biǎomèi): Younger Female Cousin (Mother’s siblings’ children)

Great-Grandparents (High Generations)

1. 曾祖父 (Zēngzǔfù): Great-Grandfather (Father’s grandfather)
2. 曾祖母 (Zēngzǔmǔ): Great-Grandmother (Father’s grandmother)
3. 外曾祖父 (Wài Zēngzǔfù): Maternal Great-Grandfather
4. 外曾祖母 (Wài Zēngzǔmǔ): Maternal Great-Grandmother

Father’s Side (Paternal Relatives – Extended)

1. 堂伯 (Tángbó): Elder Male Cousin from the father’s brother (addressed based on age hierarchy relative to the speaker)
2. 堂叔 (Tángshū): Younger Male Cousin from the father’s brother
3. 堂嫂 (Tángsǎo): Elder Male Cousin’s Wife (from the father’s brother)
4. 堂弟媳 (Tángdìxí): Younger Male Cousin’s Wife (from the father’s brother)
5. 堂姐夫 (Tángjiěfū): Elder Female Cousin’s Husband (from the father’s brother)
6. 堂妹夫 (Tángmèifū): Younger Female Cousin’s Husband (from the father’s brother)
7. 姑表哥 (Gūbiǎogē): Male Cousin from the father’s sister (older)
8. 姑表弟 (Gūbiǎodì): Male Cousin from the father’s sister (younger)
9. 姑表姐 (Gūbiǎojiě): Female Cousin from the father’s sister (older)
10. 姑表妹 (Gūbiǎomèi): Female Cousin from the father’s sister (younger)

Mother’s Side (Maternal Relatives – Extended)

1. 表伯 (Biǎobó): Maternal Uncle who is older than your mother
2. 表叔 (Biǎoshū): Maternal Uncle who is younger than your mother
3. 舅表哥 (Jiùbiǎogē): Male Cousin from the mother’s brother (older)
4. 舅表弟 (Jiùbiǎodì): Male Cousin from the mother’s brother (younger)
5. 姨表姐 (Yíbiǎojiě): Female Cousin from the mother’s sister (older)
6. 姨表妹 (Yíbiǎomèi): Female Cousin from the mother’s sister (younger)

Granduncles and Grandaunts (Extended Generations)

Father’s Side

1. 伯祖父 (Bózǔfù): Granduncle (Father’s eldest uncle)
2. 叔祖父 (Shūzǔfù): Granduncle (Father’s younger uncle)
3. 伯祖母 (Bózǔmǔ): Granduncle’s wife (Father’s eldest uncle’s wife)
4. 叔祖母 (Shūzǔmǔ): Granduncle’s wife (Father’s younger uncle’s wife)
5. 姑婆 (Gūpó): Grandaunt (Father’s aunt)
6. 姑公 (Gūgōng): Grandaunt’s husband

Mother’s Side

1. 舅公 (Jiùgōng): Granduncle (Mother’s uncle)
2. 舅婆 (Jiùpó): Granduncle’s wife (Mother’s uncle’s wife)
3. 姨婆 (Yípó): Grandaunt (Mother’s aunt)
4. 姨公 (Yígōng): Grandaunt’s husband

Titles for Nephews, Nieces, and Their Families

1. 侄子 (Zhízǐ): Nephew (Brother’s son)
2. 侄女 (Zhínǚ): Niece (Brother’s daughter)
3. 外甥 (Wàishēng): Nephew (Sister’s son)
4. 外甥女 (Wàishēngnǚ): Niece (Sister’s daughter)

Spouse’s Family (In-Laws)

1. 公公 (Gōnggong): Husband’s Father
2. 婆婆 (Pópo): Husband’s Mother
3. 岳父 (Yuèfù): Wife’s Father
4. 岳母 (Yuèmǔ): Wife’s Mother

Spouse’s Extended Family

Husband’s Side

1. 大伯 (Dàbó): Husband’s Older Brother
2. 小叔 (Xiǎoshū): Husband’s Younger Brother
3. 大姑 (Dàgū): Husband’s Older Sister
4. 小姑 (Xiǎogū): Husband’s Younger Sister

Wife’s Side

1. 大舅 (Dàjiù): Wife’s Older Brother
2. 小舅 (Xiǎojiù): Wife’s Younger Brother
3. 大姨 (Dàyí): Wife’s Older Sister
4. 小姨 (Xiǎoyí): Wife’s Younger Sister