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The Kinship Map: Address Every Relative Correctly

Dread fumbling "uncle" titles at family reunions? This visual guide maps every common relation.

Paternal Relatives

  • Father's father → 爷爷 (paternal grandpa); his wife → 奶奶 (paternal grandma)
  • Father's brothers → 伯父 (elder) / 叔父 (younger); their wives → 伯母 / 婶婶
  • Father's sisters → 姑姑; their husbands → 姑父
  • Father's brothers' sons → 堂兄 / 堂弟 (paternal cousins)
  • Father's sisters' sons → 表兄 / 表弟 (maternal-line cousins)

Maternal Relatives

  • Mother's father → 外公 / 姥爷; his wife → 外婆 / 姥姥
  • Mother's brothers → 舅舅; their wives → 舅妈
  • Mother's sisters → 姨妈; their husbands → 姨父
  • Mother's brothers' children → 表哥 / 表姐
  • Mother's sisters' children → 表哥 / 表姐

In-Laws (Both Sides)

  • Husband's father → 公公; mother → 婆婆
  • Husband's elder brother → 大伯子; younger → 小叔子
  • Husband's elder sister → 大姑子; younger → 小姑子
  • Wife's father → 岳父; mother → 岳母
  • Wife's elder brother → 大舅子; younger → 小舅子
  • Wife's elder sister → 大姨子; younger → 小姨子

Direct Descendants

  • Son's son → 孙子 (grandson)
  • Son's daughter → 孙女 (granddaughter)
  • Daughter's son → 外孙
  • Daughter's children → 外孙女 / 外孙
💡 Skip the math — try the GFWPS tool:Kinship Titles

📌 FAQ

叔叔 vs 舅舅 — what's the difference?

叔叔 is your father's younger brother (paternal side); 舅舅 is your mother's brother (maternal side).

How do 堂 and 表 cousins differ?

Children of your father's brothers are 堂 (same surname); everyone else is 表.

What do I call my husband's grandmother?

太奶奶 or simply 老奶奶.