Introduction
Learning how to talk about family in Chinese (Mandarin) is an essential skill for beginners. If you are studying for HSK 1, knowing how to introduce your family members will help you in daily conversations. In this blog, we will learn basic family vocabulary, simple sentences, and practice exercises to help you confidently talk about your family in Chinese.
👨👩👧👦 Basic Family Vocabulary (家庭 – jiātíng)
Here are the most common family words in Chinese with pinyin (pronunciation) and meanings:
Chinese | Pinyin | English Meaning |
---|---|---|
爸爸 | bàba | Dad / Father |
妈妈 | māma | Mom / Mother |
哥哥 | gēge | Older brother |
弟弟 | dìdi | Younger brother |
姐姐 | jiějie | Older sister |
妹妹 | mèimei | Younger sister |
儿子 | érzi | Son |
女儿 | nǚ’ér | Daughter |
爷爷 | yéye | Grandfather (Dad’s side) |
奶奶 | nǎinai | Grandmother (Dad’s side) |
外公 | wàigōng | Grandfather (Mom’s side) |
外婆 | wàipó | Grandmother (Mom’s side) |
🗣️ How to Introduce Your Family in Chinese
1️⃣ Saying “This is my family”
- 这是我的家。(Zhè shì wǒ de jiā.) → This is my family.
- 我家有四口人。(Wǒ jiā yǒu sì kǒu rén.) → There are four people in my family.
📌 Note: The word “口” (kǒu) is a measure word for family members.
2️⃣ Talking About Family Members
To introduce your family, use:
👉 [Family member] + 是 + [Person’s role]
🔹 他是我爸爸。(Tā shì wǒ bàba.) → He is my dad.
🔹 她是我妈妈。(Tā shì wǒ māma.) → She is my mom.
📌 If you want to say “I have a brother/sister“, use:
🔹 我有一个哥哥。(Wǒ yǒu yí gè gēge.) → I have an older brother.
🔹 我没有姐姐。(Wǒ méiyǒu jiějie.) → I don’t have an older sister.
💬 Common Family Conversations
👩👦 Asking About Someone’s Family
- 你家有几口人?(Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén?) → How many people are in your family?
- 你有兄弟姐妹吗?(Nǐ yǒu xiōngdì jiěmèi ma?) → Do you have siblings?
👨👩👧👦 Answering Questions
- 我家有五口人。(Wǒ jiā yǒu wǔ kǒu rén.) → There are five people in my family.
- 我有两个弟弟。(Wǒ yǒu liǎng gè dìdi.) → I have two younger brothers.
- 我没有哥哥。(Wǒ méiyǒu gēge.) → I don’t have an older brother.




🎯 Practice Exercises (Try to Answer!)
👉 1. How would you say “I have one older sister and one younger brother” in Chinese?
👉 2. How do you ask someone how many family members they have?
👉 3. How do you say “My mom and dad love me” in Chinese?
💡 Comment your answers below, and I’ll check them for you! 😊