A Handy Guide to Refer to When Greeting in Chinese

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Greetings are important in every culture and you need to be well versed with the right ways to greet someone. When it comes to Chinese culture, they have their own way of greeting people. There is always a great way to address people in Chinese. Addressing people in various culture is deemed respectful which needs to be a norm at all times. Children of young age in China need to learn the way to greet people, which helps in framing their manners and personality. Hence, learn Chinese for kids here.

How to address someone?

  1. 先生 (xiān sheng)

Meaning: Mr.

  1. 女士 (nǚ shì)

Meaning: Ms.

  1. 太太 (tài tai)

Meaning: Mrs.

  1. 小姐 (xiǎojiě)

Meaning: Miss

How to ask someone’s name?

There are many common words you can use to ask their name politely. It can be formally or informally. When it comes to asking someone’s name, it can also be asking about their family name. This should be deemed important, because if asked in a wrong way, it seems rude and offensive.

  1. 姓名 (xìng míng)

Meaning: Full name

  1. (xìng)

Meaning: Family name

  1. 名字 (míng zi)

Meaning: Name

Family titles in Chinese

  1. 父亲 (fù qīn) means Father
  2. 爸爸 (bà ba) means Dad
  3. 哥哥 (gē ge) means Older brother
  4. 弟弟 (dì di) means Younger brother
  5. 母亲 (mǔ qīn) means Mother
  6. 妈妈 (mā ma) means Mum
  7. 姐姐 (jiě jie) means Older Sister
  8. 妹妹 (mèi mei) means Younger sister
  9. 老婆 (lǎo pó) means Wife
  10. 老公 (lǎo gōng) means Husband
  11. 未婚夫 (wèi hūn fū) means Fiancé
  12. 未婚妻 (wèi hūn qī) means Fiancée
  13. 婆婆 (pó po) means Mother-in-law or husband’s mother
  14. 公公 (gōng gong) means Father-in-law or husband’s mother
  15. 岳母 (yuè mǔ) means Mother-in-law or wife’s mother
  16. 岳父 (yuè fù) means Father-in-law or wife’s father
  17. 儿子 (ér zi) means Son
  18. 女儿 (nǚ ér) means Daughter
  19. 侄女 (zhí nǚ) means Niece or brother’s daughter
  20. 甥女 (shēng nǚ) Niece means sister’s daughter
  21. 侄子 (zhí zi) means Nephew or brother’s son
  22. 外甥 (wài shēng) means Nephew or sister’s son
  23. 孙子 (sūn zi) means Grandson or son’s son
  24. 外孙 (wài sūn) means Grandson or daughter’s son
  25. 曾孙 (zēng sūn) means Great-grandson
  26. 孙女 (sūn nǚ) means Granddaughter or son’s daughter
  27. 外孙女 (wài sūn nǚ) means Granddaughter or daughter’s daughter
  28. 曾孙女 (zēng sūn nǚ) means Great-granddaughter