short essay about my family in mandarin

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Talking About Family in Chinese Posted by sasha on Sep 25, 2017 in Vocabulary

The Chinese family tree can be quite complicated, as we learned in our last post. Go back and check that one out if you need to brush up on your Chinese family vocabulary . Now that you’ve got all the Chinese words you’ll need for familial relationships, it’s time to go a step further. In this post we’ll practice talking about family in Chinese.

How Many People?

First up, let’s learn how to ask and answer about the amount of people in your family. In Chinese, there are two ways to ask “How many people are in your family?”:

你家有几个人? nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ gè rén

你家有几口人 nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén.

As you can see, the only thing that’s different between those two questions is the measure word. Many textbooks will teach you to use 口 as the measure word for people, but it’s perfectly fine to use the catch-all measure word 个. In fact, I’ve had Chinese teachers tell me it’s more common to use 个. So, how many people are in your family?  Here’s my answer:

我家有九个人. wǒ jiā yǒu jiǔ gè rén There are 9 people in my family.

Try to use the words we learned in the last post to introduce them. Here’s the list of people in my family:

爸爸，妈妈，四个弟弟，两个妹妹，和我 bà ba, mā ma, sì gè dì di, liǎng gè mèi mei, hé wǒ dad, mom, 4 younger brothers, 2 younger sisters, and me

Now let’s move on to some more Q&A about family members so you can get even more practice.

Family Members Q&A

Here are some common questions that you might encounter when talking about family in Chinese, as well as examples of how to answer them:

1. 你结婚了吗? nǐ jié hūn le ma Are you married?

是的，我已经结婚了. shì de, wǒ yǐ jīng jié hūn le yes, i’m already married., 没有，我还没结婚. méi yǒu, wǒ hái méi jié hūn no, i’m not married yet., 2. 你有孩子吗 nǐ yǒu hái zi ma do you have children, 有的，我有一个儿子. yǒu de, wǒ yǒu yī gè er zi yes, i have a son., 我没有孩子. wǒ méi yǒu hái zi no, i don’t have children., 3. 你的父母住在哪里 nǐ de fù mǔ zhù zài nǎ lǐ where do your parents live, 他们住在我的老家. tā men zhù zài wǒ de lǎo jiā they live in my hometown., 4. 你的爸爸做什么工作 nǐ de bà ba zuò shén me gōng zuò what does your dad do, 我爸爸是医生. wǒ bà ba shì yī shēng my dad is a doctor., 5. 你的弟弟几岁了 nǐ de dì di jǐ suì le how old is your little brother, 他十七岁. tā shí qī suì he’s 17., 6. 你的妹妹叫什么名字 nǐ de mèi mei jiào shén me míng zì what’s your little sister’s name, 她叫凯蒂. tā jiào kǎi dì her name is katie..

You can easily change any of the above questions by using a different family member. Keep the sentence structure the same but just use different vocabulary. Go ahead and practice! See if you can come up with five or so questions, and then just answer them yourself. Better yet – find someone you can chat with. It’s great to practice reading and writing, but there’s nothing better than actually talking with someone! If you want some more reading practice, try to get through this post I wrote in Chinese about my family a while back.

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About the Author: sasha

Sasha is an English teacher, writer, photographer, and videographer from the great state of Michigan. Upon graduating from Michigan State University, he moved to China and spent 5+ years living, working, studying, and traveling there. He also studied Indonesian Language & Culture in Bali for a year. He and his wife run the travel blog Grateful Gypsies, and they're currently trying the digital nomad lifestyle across Latin America.

Your translations are off, as well as one of your phrases. You said your little brother is 17, but said 七岁, which means seven years old. Seventeen years old is 十七岁. You also said 两个妹妹, but the correct way to say this is 二个妹妹. Though 两 means two, it more commonly refers to both, or a pair.

@Grace Thanks for the comment, Grace. I just checked the post and it says 十七岁 so I’m not sure where you’re seeing that I left out the character for “ten.” As for the difference of 两个 or 二个, I have never in all my years living and traveling in China heard someone count family members using “二个.” I even referenced my notes from my Chinese class when I learned about family, and my teacher definitely told me to say 二个妹妹 for two younger sisters.

Actually the correct term IS 两个人 Grace。 两 is used for ‘people’ while 二 is also two in Chinese but not actually used to describe the number of people. I studied Chinese in Hong Kong for more than 6 years and my teacher definitely told me to use that term. I say this with the most respect.

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How to Introduce Your Family in Chinese

Almost everyone holds a special place in their heart for families . A family is those you’re bound with from birth, the ones who will always be there for you unconditionally. When we first meet someone, we like to be familiar with their family background . Knowing this provides valuable information on that person’s upbringing, which could shape their personality dramatically. Thus, it’s important to learn how to talk about your family in Chinese.

In China, family has great importance. 孝顺 ( xiào shùn ), which means being responsible and obedient to parents, is one of the best qualities a person can have. While reading this article, keep in mind that the Chinese view of parent-child relationships differs in some ways from that of Western countries.

Now let’s get right into today’s adventure!

Table of Contents

• Family Perceptions in China
• Family Member Terms and Other Basics
• Terms for Relatives
• Family Member Terms as a Married Person
• Endearment Terms
• Bonus – Interesting Expressions about Family Members
• Conclusion: How ChineseClass101 Can Help You Master Family Terms

1. Family Perceptions in China

The family institution in China is incredibly strong. China highly values family bonds , particularly parent-child relationships . When it comes to family in the Chinese culture, there are even traditions that say children should never travel far, and should always stay with their parents.

Even now, many men still live with their parents even after their marriage. In this case, the woman will have to move to the man’s house and live with his parents. This sometimes creates an unpleasant relationship between the wife and her mother-in-law , which is a situation you can see used as a stereotype in a wide variety of Chinese shows.

There are many different ways to name family members depending on your relationship to them. Age difference is the main factor in determining what to call a family member, since Chinese people heavily emphasize that youngsters should respect their elders.

One thing to keep in mind: Unlike in Western culture, it’s not respectful to directly call elders by their names. This matter will be introduced more thoroughly later in this article.

2. Family Member Terms and Other Basics

Here are some Chinese words for family members to expand your family in Chinese vocabulary! With just these basic words and phrases, you have a great place to start a simple conversation about family.

In Chinese: 我的家庭很幸福。 Pinyin: Wǒ de jiā tíng hěn xìng fú. In English: I have a happy family.

• In Chinese: 母亲 Pinyin: mǔ qīn In English: mother
• In Chinese: 父亲 Pinyin: fù qīn In English: father
• In Chinese: 妈妈 Pinyin: mā ma In English: mom
• In Chinese: 爸爸 Pinyin: bà ba In English: dad
• In Chinese: 哥哥/弟弟 Pinyin: gē ge /dì di In English: (older) brother / (younger) brother
• In Chinese: 兄弟姐妹 Pinyin: xiōng dì jiě mèi In English: sibling

Fun fact: The interesting thing about siblings in Chinese is that older and younger siblings have different terms, whereas English does not.

• In Chinese: 姥爷 / 爷爷 / 祖父 Pinyin: lǎo yé / yé ye / zǔ fù In English: (mother’s side) grandfather / (father’s side) grandfather / grandfather
• In Chinese: 姥姥 / 奶奶 / 祖母 Pinyin: lǎo lao / nǎi nai / zǔ mǔ In English: (mother’s side) grandmother / (father’s side) grandmother / grandmother
• In Chinese: 父母 / 家长 Pinyin: fù mǔ / jiā zhǎng In English: parents

Fun fact: The literal meaning of 家长 is the family’s leader .

• In Chinese: 祖父母 Pinyin: zǔ fù mǔ In English: grandparents
• In Chinese: 曾祖母 Pinyin: zēng zǔ mǔ In English: great grandmother
• In Chinese: 曾祖父 Pinyin: zēng zǔ fù In English: great grandfather

3. Terms for Relatives

Now, let’s work our way around the Chinese family tree, so that you’ll never struggle to find the right word for a family member!

• In Chinese: 亲戚/亲属 Pinyin: qīn qi / qīn shǔ In English: relative

Fun fact: There’s a fun Chinese term called 走亲戚 ( zǒu qīn qi ), which literally means “walk through relatives.” This is a tradition that Chinese people normally have during Chinese New Year , which is also known as the Spring Festival . It’s a holiday where families spend time together and catch up, just like Christmas in Western cultures. If some families can’t make the reunion, you’ll need to 走亲戚, to visit them at their place and spend some quality time. This shows that the Chinese extended family is just as important as the Chinese immediate family.

• In Chinese: 叔叔 Pinyin: shū shu In English: uncle
• In Chinese: 阿姨 Pinyin: ā yí In English: aunt

Fun fact: In English, youngsters can usually call their elders who have no relations Mr. or Ms. and such, and sometimes if an elder is close enough, they can even directly call them by their names. This is quite different in China.

The young generation have to call adults who are older a certain term depending on the age difference . Usually, you can call people who are ten to twenty years older “aunt” (阿姨) or “uncle” (叔叔). For people who are at a similar age as your grandparents, you’re required to call them “grandmother” (奶奶) or “grandfather” (爷爷).

• In Chinese: 堂兄弟姐妹/表兄弟姐妹 Pinyin: táng xiōng dì jiě mèi /biǎo xiōng dì jiě mèi In English: cousin

Fun fact: Since “cousin” in Chinese is a relatively long word, Chinese people usually don’t use the word “cousin.” Instead, they’ll use the terms that can show the direct relation. There are eight different terms under the category “cousin,” including: 堂兄 ( táng xiōng ) [male, father’s side, older], 堂弟 ( táng dì ) [male, father’s side, younger], 堂姐 ( táng jiě ) [female, father’s side, older], 堂妹 ( táng mèi ) [female, father’s side, younger], 表兄 ( biǎo xiōng ) [male, mother’s side, older], 表弟 ( biǎo dì ) [male, mother’s side, younger], 表姐 ( biǎo jiě ) [female, mother’s side, older], 表妹 ( biǎo mèi ) [female, mother’s side, younger].

• In Chinese: 外甥女 / 侄女 Pinyin: wài shēng nǚ / zhí nǚ In English: niece
• In Chinese: 侄子 / 外甥 Pinyin: zhí zi / wài shēng In English: nephew

4. Family Member Terms as a Married Person

Once you’ve married in Chinese culture, you’ve gained several new Chinese family members. Here’s what to call them all!

• In Chinese: 妻子 Pinyin: qī zǐ In English: wife
• In Chinese: 丈夫 / 先生 Pinyin: zhàng fū / xiān shēng In English: husband

• In Chinese: 女儿 Pinyin: nǚ ér In English: daughter
• In Chinese: 儿子 Pinyin: ér zi In English: son
• In Chinese: 姐夫 / 妹夫 Pinyin: jiě fū / mèi fū In English: brother-in-law
• In Chinese: 嫂子 / 弟妹 Pinyin: sǎo zi / dì mèi In English: (older brother’s side) sister-in-law / (younger brother’s side) sister-in-law
• In Chinese: 婆婆 / 岳母 Pinyin: pó po / yuè mǔ In English: mother-in-law (husband’s mother) / mother-in-law (wife’s mother)
• In Chinese: 公公 / 岳父 Pinyin: gōng gong / yuè fù In English: father-in-law (husband’s father) / father-in-law (wife’s father)

Fun fact: In Chinese culture, if you’re on good terms with your father-in-law and mother-in-law, and you feel comfortable, it will be good to call them “mom” or “dad,” just like your wife/husband does. This shows that you see them as your own mother or father. However, in many cases, it can be difficult to get along with your father-in-law or mother-in-law.

5. Endearment Terms

• In Chinese: 爹地 / 爸爸 / 老爸 Pinyin: diē dì / bà ba / lǎo bà In English: daddy
• In Chinese: 妈咪 / 妈妈 / 老妈 Pinyin: mā mī / mā ma / lǎo mā In English: mommy
• In Chinese: 老哥 / 老弟 Pinyin: lǎo gē / lǎo dì In English: (older) brother / (younger) brother
• In Chinese: 老姐 / 老妹 Pinyin: lǎo jiě / lǎo mèi In English: (older) sister / (younger) sister
• In Chinese: 老婆 / 媳妇 Pinyin: lǎo pó / xí fù In English: wife
• In Chinese: 老公 Pinyin: lǎo gōng In English: husband

Fun fact: 老 means “old” in Chinese, which is a very common thing to call someone who is close to you in Chinese. If you notice, lots of the nicknames mentioned above begin with a 老. In this case, 婆 and 公 each means “old women” and “old men.” By calling your other half this, it shows your commitment that you want to grow old with each other .

• In Chinese: 亲爱的 Pinyin: qīn ài de In English: dear
• In Chinese: 宝贝 Pinyin: bǎo bèi In English: baby
• In Chinese: 闺女 Pinyin: guī nǚ In English: daughter

6. Bonus – Interesting Expressions about Family Members

• In Chinese: 虎毒不食子。 Pinyin: Hǔ dú bú shí zǐ. In English: Even a vicious tiger won’t eat its own son. Actual meaning: Parents will always treat their own children kindly, no matter how evil their nature is.
• In Chinese: 有其父必有其子。 Pinyin: Yǒu qí fù bì yǒu qí zǐ. In English: Like father, like son. Actual meaning: A son’s character is very likely to resemble his father’s.
• In Chinese: 不听老人言，吃亏在眼前。 Pinyin: Bù tīng lǎo rén yán, chī kuī zài yǎn qián. In English: If you don’t listen to elders’ advice, you will learn your lesson.

7. Conclusion: How ChineseClass101 Can Help You Master Family Terms

I hope you’re now more fascinated with the unique Chinese culture after reading this article about Chinese family. Continue to binge on learning the most native and entertaining Chinese lessons at ChineseClass101.com ; here, Chinese is no longer an excruciating language that’s hard to master. It’s a paradise where you can enjoy yourself even while studying!

Before you go, let us know in the comments how confident you feel naming your family members in Chinese now! And tell us common sayings or idioms about family in your own language while you’re at it! 😉 We look forward to hearing from you!

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My Family (HSK 1)

In this story, Didi will tell you about her family.

我的妈妈叫韩梅梅。她是一名医生。

我的爸爸叫王明。他是一名教师。

我的儿子叫张帅。他是一名学生。

Multiple Choice Questions

English translation.

Hello, my name is Wang Didi.

My mom’s name is Han Meimei. She is a doctor.

My dad’s name is Wang Ming. He is a teacher.

I am also a teacher.

My son’s name is Zhang Shuai. He is a student.

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CBC 1.05 | Introducing your family in Mandarin

• Coffee Break Languages
• March 8, 2017
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In this episode you’ll learn the words for family members in Mandarin Chinese and you’ll learn to introduce them. There’s also more practice of what you’ve learned in previous lessons.

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Introducing your family in Chinese - Lesson 08

1. Vocabulary

3. dialogue, 4. exercises.

Please learn the vocabulary before you start learning the grammar and dialogues.

A. Interrogative sentences with an interrogative pronounf

Here we will learn to use 什么 ‹ shénme › ("quoi ; quel") ("what") to ask questions about things and 几 ‹ jǐ › to ask questions about quantities. In this kind of question the word order is the same as in a declarative sentence in Chinese. The question is formed by placing the interrogative pronoun where the answer will be placed.

S + V + Pronoun (+ Object) + ?

• Q: 这是 什么 ？ ‹ Zhè shì shénme › Q: What is it ? A: 这是 一张中国地图 。 ‹ Zhè shì yī zhāng zhōngguó dìtú. › A: It is a map of China.
• Q: 你妈妈 做 什么 工作？ ‹ Nǐ māmā zuò shénme gōngzuò? › Q: What is your mom job ? A: 我妈妈 是 老师 。 ‹ Wǒ māmā shì lǎoshī. › A: My mom is a teacher.
• 这是 谁 的 地图？ ‹ Zhè shì shéi de dìtú? › and not 这是谁地图？
• 这是 什么 地图？ ‹ Zhè shì shénme dìtú? › and not 这是什么的地图？
• Q: 你家有 几 口 人？ ‹ Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén? › Q: In your family, how many people are there ? R: 我家有 六 口 人。 ‹ Wǒjiā yǒu liù kǒu rén. › A: In my family, there are six people.

B. "Close possession" and 的 ‹ de ›

In the previous chapter, we saw that it is necessary to use the particle 的 ‹ de › between subject and object. However, in the case of close relationship to US (like the family), it becomes optional and is often omitted in spoken language.

The two following examples are therefore correct : 我的哥哥 ‹ wǒ de gēge › and 我哥哥 ‹ wǒ gēge › .

As mentioned previously, listen and read the dialogue many times until it is understood (without initially looking at the English translation).

- 大卫，这是什么？ ‹ Dàwèi, zhè shì shénme? › - 这是我家的照片。 ‹ Zhè shì wǒ quánjiā de zhàopiàn. › - 你家有几口人？ ‹ Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén? › - 我家有六口人 ：爸爸，妈妈，两个妹妹，一个弟弟和我。我没有哥哥。 ‹ Wǒ jiā yǒu liù kǒu rén: bàba, māma, liǎng gè mèimei, yīgè dìdi hé wǒ. Wǒ méi yǒu gēge. › - 他是谁？ ‹ Tā shì shéi? › - 他是我弟弟。 ‹ Tā shì wǒ dìdi. › - 你爸爸，妈妈做什么工作？ ‹ Nǐ bàba, māma zuò shénme gōngzuò? › - 我爸爸是老师，妈妈不工作。 ‹ Wǒ bàba shì lǎoshī, māma bù gōngzuò. › - 你呢？ ‹ Nǐ ne? › - 我是学生。 王丽，你家有几口人？ ‹ Wǒ shì xuéshēng. Wáng Lì, nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén? › - 我家有三口人。 ‹ Wǒ jiā yǒu sān kǒu rén. › - 你爸爸工作吗？ ‹ Nǐ bàba gōngzuò ma? › - 工作。他是医生。 ‹ Gōngzuò. Tā shì yīshēng. ›

Translation :

- David, what is it? - This is a photo of my family. - In your family, how many people are there? - In my family there are six people: dad, mom, two younger sisters, a younger brother and me. I do not have an elder brother. - Who is it? - This is my little brother. - What is the job of your dad and mom? - My dad is a teacher, mom doesn't work. - And you? - I am a student. Wang Li, how many people are there in your family? - There are three people in my family. - Does your dad work? - Yes. He is a doctor.

You too can answer the following questions in Chinese. Feel free to use the dictionary to look for a word (like a profession for instance).

1. 你家有几口人？ ‹ Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén? › 2. 你爸爸，妈妈做什么工作？ ‹ Nǐ bàba, māma zuò shénme gōngzuò? ›

Pinyin/My family

I have a happy family, which has 5 people, including my father, mother, grandfather, sister and me. My father is a worker, who can meet my little requests, such as to buy small toys for me. My mother accompanies me to learn every day. My grandpa is a math teacher, he requests me very strict. My sister is a student. I have to study hard and get good grades to repay them.

Wǒ yǒu yīge xìngfú de jiā , jiāli yǒu 5 ge rén, fēnbié shì bàba, māma, yéye, jiějie hé wǒ. Bàba shì ge gōngrén, néng mǎnzú wǒ de xiǎo yāoqiú, gěi wǒ mǎi xiǎo wánjù. Māma měitiān péi wǒ xuéxí. Yéye shì ge shùxué lǎoshī, tā duì wǒ hěn yángé. Wǒ de jiějie shì xuéshēng. Wǒ yào nǔlì xuéxí, qǔde hǎo chéngjì lái bàodá tāmen.

• Book:Pinyin
• Pinyin/Essay
• Pinyin/Narration

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How To Talk About (And Address) Family Members In Chinese

• Read time 12 mins

In Chinese culture, family holds a significant place. Knowing the right terms to address family members or introduce them to someone else can show your love and respect for your family.

Family relationships are considered precious and essential in Chinese culture, so it’s no wonder a lot of thought has gone into the different terms to used address various family members.

Plus, because family is highly regarded in Chinese culture, the subject of family often pops up in conversations.

Knowing family-associated vocabulary allows you to communicate better with native speakers on this topic.

In this guide, we’ll look at the right terms to use when addressing different family members .

I’ll also teach you some basic sentences to talk about family and simple ways to ask and respond to questions about family .

Let’s get into it.

Mandarin Chinese terms for addressing family members

There are many terms to address family members, which usually vary based on which side of the family they’re from, their age and their gender.

Let’s start with the Chinese terms for parents, siblings, spouses, and children before moving on to the terms for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

How to say “parents” in Mandarin

To say “parents” in Mandarin, the phrase you would use is 父母 (fùmǔ) .

Both characters will appear again below, and you’ll notice the logic behind them.

The term 父母 is only used to speak about your parents, not to address them directly.

To say “father” in Chinese, you can use the following:

• 父亲 (fùqīn): This is a more formal term typically used when speaking to other people about fathers.
• 爸爸 (bàba): This term can be used to address your own father, whether you’re speaking directly to him or about him to someone else you’re close to. It is a more affectionate and casual term. Native speakers usually shorten this to just 爸 (bà).

You can use these phrases to say “mother” in Chinese:

• 母亲 (mǔqīn): Similar to 父亲 (fù qīn), this phrase is the more formal term to use when talking about mothers.
• 妈妈 (māma): 妈妈 is what most people would call their mothers or speak of their mother when in a conversation with close friends or relatives. You can shorten this to just 妈 (mā).

How to say “siblings” in Mandarin

兄弟姐妹 (xiōngdì jiěmèi) is the phrase to use when talking about two or more siblings in general.

You can be more specific as well. Here’s how to say “brother” in Chinese:

• 哥哥 (gēge): Used to speak about or directly address an elder brother.
• 弟弟 (dìdì): Used to speak about or directly address a younger brother.

Here are some ways to say “sister” in Chinese:

• 姐姐 (jiě jie): Used to speak about or directly to an elder sister
• 妹妹 (mèimei): Used to talk about or directly to a younger sister.

All the phrases above can be shortened to just 哥, 弟, 姐, or 妹 in casual and friendly conversations.

How to say “spouse” in Mandarin

When you’re talking to someone else about your spouse, here are the terms you can use:

• 丈夫 (zhàngfū): This is a very formal way to speak of a husband (yours or someone else’s).
• 老公 (lǎogōng): This is the more casual and friendly way to speak of your husband, similar to the English slang “hubby.”
• 妻子 (qīzi): This is the more formal way to speak of a wife (yours or someone else’s).
• 老婆 (lǎopó): You can use this to talk about your wife in more casual settings, similar to the English slang “wifey.”
• 爱人 (àirén): 爱 (ài) translates to “love,” while 人 translates to “person.” Thus, this term refers to a spouse and can be used to talk about your husband or wife.

How to say “children” in Mandarin

孩子 (háizi) translates to “child,” and this can be used to talk about a son or a daughter.

The word for “son” in Mandarin Chinese is 儿子 (érzi) . This can be used to describe or talk about your son or someone else’s.

The term for “daughter” in Mandarin Chinese is 女儿 (nǚ’ér) . This is also used to describe or talk about your daughter or someone else’s.

You may notice that the Mandarin pinyin for 女 (nǚ) looks unique. Take note that how you pronounce “ü” is different from how you pronounce “u.” The two dots on top of the “u” make a significant difference!

The correct sound for “ü” is the “ee” sound in English, like in the English word “bee.” And as you pronounce the word “nǚ,” slowly round your lips. Don’t forget to implement the third tone as well.

How to say “grandparents” in Mandarin

祖父母 (zǔ fù mǔ) translates to “grandparents.” This is typically used more for speaking to someone else about your grandparents and not so much for addressing them.

But there are specific Mandarin terms to address them. This is where things may get a little tricky. For instance, the term used to address your grandfather on your dad’s side differs from that of your mom’s side.

Let’s explore each one!

Here’s how to say “grandfather” in Mandarin Chinese:

• 祖父 (zǔfù): This is the more formal term you can use to describe your father’s father (paternal grandfather).
• 爷爷 (yéye): This is the more casual way to describe or address your father’s father.
• 外公 (wàigōng): This phrase can be used to describe or address your mother’s father (maternal grandfather).

Here are some phrases to say “grandmother” in Mandarin Chinese:

• 祖母 (zǔmǔ): This is the more formal term to talk about your father’s mother (paternal grandmother).
• 奶奶 (nǎinai): This is the more casual term to talk about or address your father’s mother.
• 外婆 (wàipó): This phrase is used to describe or address your mother’s mother (maternal grandmother).
• 姥姥 (lǎolao): This is the more casual term to address your mother’s mother.

How to talk about other family members in Mandarin Chinese

In this section, we’ll look at how you can address or talk about your aunties, uncles, and cousins using Mandarin Chinese.

This is where things can get confusing, as the terms used to address these family members may differ based on which side of the family they’re from and whether they’re older or younger than your parents.

First, we’ll learn how you can address your uncles and aunties . Let’s split these terms into two categories—starting with the terms to address relatives on your dad’s side of the family, followed by that for your mom’s side.

Here’s a pretty interesting fact about Chinese culture; The younger generation would typically call an adult who is 10 to 20 years older 阿姨 (ā yí), which means “aunt,” or 叔叔, which means “uncle.”

This applies even if they are not actually related or part of the family, and it is one way to show respect to someone older.

Next, we’ll learn how to talk about your cousins from different sides of the family.

Not all these words are new; we’ve covered them above when learning the different phrases to address your siblings. The only difference is adding a 堂 in front of the term for a cousin on your dad’s side or a 表 for a cousin on your mom’s side.

Other family-related terms in Mandarin

Here are some other family-related terms that may be useful during conversations.

家庭 (jiātíng)

Translation: Family

You can use this term to address a room of family members.

Alternatively, this phrase is more commonly used to talk about your family as a whole when conversing with another person.

Here’s an example:

家人 (jiā rén)

Translation: Family member/family

This is a general term used to describe any family member. You can also use it when talking to someone about their family member or someone else’s family member if you don’t know how they’re related.

For example:

You can also use it to describe or talk about one or more family members without specifying a single one.

Here are some examples:

The difference between 家庭 (jiātíng) and 家人 (jiā rén)

You might have noticed that 家庭 (jiātíng) and 家人 (jiā rén) are very closely related. It may, at times, be confusing to tell one apart from the other.

Generally, 家庭 (jiātíng) is used when talking about a family as a whole indivisible unit (in a collective sense), while 家人 (jiā rén) is more often used when talking about one or more family members .

The **incorrect **way to say this would be:

• 我给我的家庭礼物。(Wǒ gěi wǒ de jiātíng lǐwù.)

That’s because your gift-giving is directed to family members in your family rather than to a whole family unit.

On the other hand, there are cases where you would use 家庭 instead of 家人. Here’s an example:

许多家庭受到洪水的影响。

The incorrect way to say this is:

• 许多家人受到洪水的影响。(Xǔduō jiārén shòudào hóngshuǐ de yǐngxiǎng.)

In the example above, 家庭 is used to refer to the many collective units of families that were affected by the flood.

How to Introduce Family Members in Mandarin Chinese

There are three new terms you can learn to introduce your family members to someone else.

They are as follows:

• 这是 (zhè shì): This is
• 他是 (tā shì): He is
• 她是 (tā shì): She is

他 and 她 are differentiated in writing but are pronounced the same.

If your mother happens to be standing next to you and you would like to introduce her to the person you’re speaking to, you can say 这是我妈妈 (zhè shì wǒ māmā). This means, “This is my mother.”

You can also use 他是 or 她是 as you would in English.

How To ask and respond to questions about family in Mandarin Chinese

If the topic of family is brought up, you can ask the following simple questions to get to know the other party and their family a little better.

An example of a response is also included as a guide on how you can reply to these questions.

You’d need a basic understanding of how to count in Mandarin Chinese for this response.

两个。一个哥哥和一个妹妹。

你和你的父母住在一起吗？

我的父母住在另一个城市。但是我每个月都会去看他们。

Learning the right terms to address family members in Chinese may take time

Practise these words and phrases.

Family members (especially the older generation) will appreciate it when you use the right terms to greet or address them.

This can be a great display of respect and care.

Do you know of any other interesting ways to talk about family using Mandarin Chinese?

If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

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How to Introduce Family Members in Chinese

Jump ↓   vocabulary chart  .

Our extensive vocabulary chart breaks down the family tree, and includes audio for practice.  You can find PDFs below for all the vocabulary and a link to a tool that will instantly give you the title of any member of your family. 

We highly recommend you watch the terrific white-board animation video by Off the Great Wall, but you may want to slow it down using YouTube’s video controls.  Finally, we present our own original video that teachs you the top 100 Chinese surnames.

First Video

Second Video

Chinese family members vocabulary chart.

Chinese Characters or English can be placed in the search boxes above the tables. Special thanks to “Off the Great Wall” upon whose video (posted above) I based this chart. 

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Home » Articles » How to Say “Family” in Chinese: An Ultimate Guide to Family in Chinese Culture

Full disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. ?

written by Rachel Cai

Language: Chinese

Reading time: 10 minutes

Published: Jan 14, 2019

Updated: Sep 17, 2021

How to Say “Family” in Chinese: An Ultimate Guide to Family in Chinese Culture

Family in Chinese is 家 (jiā). This can be translated as “family” or “home”.

But it’s also much more than that. “Family” is a big concept in Chinese. Let’s take a look at what it means in this ultimate guide to family in Chinese.

If you’re interested in learning Chinese, learning about family will give you significant insight to the culture.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• How to communicate with people from different age groups in Chinese
• How to properly address different family members in Chinese
• How to prepare for a stay with a Chinese family
• Chinese family TV dramas you can watch to improve your Chinese skills

Let’s get started!

Family In Chinese Culture: The Basics

In the English language and in Western culture, family mainly refers to the combination of several people living together who are tied through blood or relationships. But the word “family” means a lot more in China.

The character for family, 家 (jiā), combines the ideas of both a place and people. On the top of the character is 宀, indicating “cave” or “house”; at the bottom there is 豕 (shǐ), meaning “pig”. People live in a place where they can keep out of the wind and rain and have food inside. And that’s where family is.

In today's China, no matter how much traditional culture and mindsets have changed, “home” is still very much the place that where Chinese people’s hearts are.

The Chinese concept of “family” includes the new home created by couples after they get married and have children. It also includes the place where they grew up and their parents’ family. In fact, three-generation households are common in China.

“Come Back Home Often” is a popular Chinese song. The lyrics express how children who are away from home should often visit their parents. This idea of family comes from China's long history as an agrarian society, where people lived by working the land. The lack of economic resources pushed different generations of a Chinese family to have to live together to get by. The elder generations were largely dependent on their offspring for support after losing their ability to work. The Chinese generally retire years earlier than in western countries, so this family support system was essential.

Instead of thinking of rest after retiring, Chinese parents continue to devote themselves to the home by helping their children and taking care of their grandchildren. This eases some of the burdens on the younger family members, but it also creates tension around education and the differences in values between generations.

The Chinese notion of family is also tied to their country and philosophy. In Chinese culture, a country is called 国家 (guó jiā), which literally translates as “state family”. Confucianism is 儒家 (rú jiā), which translates to “Confucian family “.

Family is often patriarchal in China. Under the current social system in rural China, the father is usually seen as the head of the family. Even nowadays, many people still hold this view in many remote villages in China, but the difference in social status between men and women in urban China is getting smaller and smaller.

Family In Chinese Culture: Why Family Matters More Than Anything Else

In China, family matters far more than anything else. When any family member struggles, relatives will contribute even if that means personal sacrifice.

The long agrarian society and the lack of legal system forced Chinese people to have a strong dependence on family.

In the Confucian classics, 孝 (xiào) “filial piety” ranks at the top of all moral values. This is respect for one’s parents, elders and ancestors. Whenever I talk to my Western students about this topic, they struggle to fully understand. In the character 孝 (xiào). The top symbol is 老 (lǎo) ”old” and below it is 子 (zǐ) ”son”. Thus, children are seen as below their elders. Even if parents have faults or are wrong, children are not to contradict or abandon them.

By contrast, people in western countries have learned more about market rules and adapted to become socially competitive. Children strive to be independent after adulthood, paying less attention to the family when compared to the same generation in China.

Perhaps this is because in western countries social security and national welfare are relatively good, so the elderly are able to be self-sufficient after retirement. By contrast, supporting the elderly in China is an obligation written into the Chinese constitution that everyone must fulfill.

My American students recently told me that few adults who have jobs in the United States live under the same roof as their parents. Grandparents being the primary caregivers for their grandchildren is sometimes less common in the west.

Neither perspective is right or wrong. Even having grown up in Chinese society, I can understand the mentality of children who want to leave home when they grow up. Chinese people also want to get rid of restrictions and find freedom.

Family In Chinese Culture: How To Communicate Respectfully With Older People

The emphasis on ethics in Chinese families means Chinese families have more rules, and these include rules about how to communicate.

Respecting the old and cherishing the young is one of the virtues of our Chinese tradition.

Here are a few tips to help you succeed when communicating with different generations of Chinese:

Pay Attention To Speed And Intonation When Speaking With Your Elders.

Be softly spoken, and speak clearly and slowly. When communicating with the elderly, you should also address them as 您 (nín) instead of 你 (nǐ). It is disrespectful to call an elder directly by their Chinese name. To the surprise of many Chinese learners, Chinese people address all elders as though they are family members. For example, a girl in her early twenties should call a woman of similar age to her mother 阿姨 (ā yí) “auntie” and an older man “uncle”. When my three-year-old daughter sees a slightly older boy or a girl, she will call them 哥哥 (gē ge) “brother” 姐姐 or (jǐe jie) “sister”. This brings people closer and makes them feel kind.

When chatting with your elders in China, take the role of a listener rather than a speaker. Your aim should be to show that you respect their life experience. Even when you have different point of view, avoid disagreement. Make sure your tone and words are respectful.

Family In Chinese Culture: Chatting With Children

When communicating with young children, Chinese people like to duplicate some nouns after a verb, such as 吃饭饭 (chī fàn fàn) meaning “to eat”, 洗澡澡 (xǐ zǎo zǎo) meaning “to shower”.

This sounds cute and makes it easier for children to repeat and remember words.

Compared to western culture, Chinese people seldom use courteous words when we communicate with younger or familiar peers. For instance, if we ask our child to do a small thing for us, he will usually be praised for doing a good job instead of being told “thank you”. In Chinese people's opinion, if we are too polite, people will feel that we are growing apart. We don't need to be very polite in words with our family, because we already know one another's value in our hearts.

How To Address Chinese Family Members

The way to address family members is different in different parts of China. Because of China's vast borders, distant provinces also have different ways of addressing relatives. Let's take a look at some commonly used terms.

• 妈妈 (mā ma) “mom”
• 母亲 (mǔ qīn) “mother”
• 爸爸 (bà ba) “dad”
• 父亲 (fù qin) “father”
• 女儿 (nǚ ér) “daughter”
• 儿子 (ér zi) “son”
• 爷爷 (yé ye) “grandpa” (on the father’s side)
• 奶奶（naǐ nai）”grandma” (on the father’s side)
• 外婆 (waì pó) “grandpa” (on the mother’s side)
• 外公 (waì gōng) “grandpa” (on the mother’s side)
• 阿姨 (ā yí) “aunt” (mother’s sisters)
• 姑姑 (gū gu) “aunt” (father’s sisters)
• 叔叔 (shū shu) “uncle”（father’s younger brothers）
• 伯伯(bó bo) “uncle” (father’s older brothers）
• 舅舅(jìu jiu) “uncle” (mother’s brothers）
• 舅妈 (jìu mā) “aunt” (mother’s sister-in law）
• 表妹 (biǎo mèi) “cousin” (younger female cousin on mother’s side)
• 表姐 (biǎo jiě) “cousin” (older female cousin on mother’s side)
• 堂哥 (táng gē) “cousin” (older male cousin on father’s side)
• 堂弟 (tāng dì) “cousin” (younger male cousin on father’s side）

What You Need To Know If You’re Staying With A Chinese Family

Chinese people are very hospitable. Whenever there is a friend visiting, the host must bring out the best food.

Chinese shyness and humility make us very polite when we visit other people's homes. Even if the host offers warm hospitality, we will reject it kindly and deliberately.

Here are some sentences help you understand this practice.

When the host asks about what you’d like to drink, you can say: 我喝点儿茶吧。(wǒ hē diǎn er chá bā.) “I’d like to drink a little tea.”

“点儿” (diǎn er) means “a little”, so the sentence means “I’d like to drink a little tea.” This word will help you sound less greedy.

When you give a present to your host, they might say: 你太客气了，真不好意思！(nǐ tài kèqìle, zhēn bù hǎoyìsi!) “You’re too polite, I’m very embarrassed.”

“不好意思” （bù hǎoyìsi）means “embarrassed” or “sorry”. This expression is used here to show that the receiver thinks the gift is so valuable and that he feels “guilty” taking it.

There are a few things Chinese people do at the dinner table that are considered rather strange for Westerners. Don’t be overwhelmed if you encounter these situations.

For one, we like try to persuade our guests to eat and drink more. We don’t want our guest to be still hungry through politeness.

We also like to help our guests dish food onto their plates. Although you might think it’s not very hygienic, this is considered to be something a host needs to do at the dinner table, especially for elders and children.

5 Famous Chinese Family Dramas To Improve Your Chinese Language Skills

Chinese people like to watch TV shows together as a family. The censorship of TV in China is very strict, so all TV shows must be suitable for family watching. Therefore, we do not have a TV rating system.

Here are some of the most acclaimed dramas to help you learn about Chinese family culture and to improve your Chinese language skills.

• 《蜗居》(wōjū) “Dwelling Narrowness”. Set against the backdrop of soaring housing prices, this is a series of twists and turns experienced by ordinary people in urban life. The content is very realistic and a true portrayal of contemporary Chinese families. *《家有儿女》(jiā yǒu érnǚ) “Home with Children” is a popular Chinese sitcom. Fun family stories are portrayed in a relaxed way that revolves around children and their parents. *《我爱我家》(wǒ ài wǒjiā) “I Love my Family” is a childhood favorite. It tells the story of a family of six their neighbors, relatives and friends in Beijing in the 1990s. *《大家庭》(dà jiātíng) “The Big Family” tells a love story of a couple who don’t have a matching family background. There are three families involved in this love story. *《情满四合院》(qíng mǎn sìhéyuàn) tells the story of the period between the 1960s and 1990s. They are stories of humanity and social changes in Beijing's courtyard houses.

Family In Chinese Culture: In Conclusion

When all is said and done, people are different yet similar. Chinese or American, Eastern or Western. We all love our family and welcome different cultures.

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Chinese Short Stories: 9 Best Websites for Improving Your Mandarin Reading Skills

A good short story can be the perfect complement to a Sunday afternoon or Tuesday work break.

Better yet, you can read short stories in Chinese for an interesting learning experience —both linguistic and cultural.

We’ll show you how to take advantage of Chinese short stories and where to find them online.

2. 短美文网 | Short and Beautiful Writings

• 3. 短文学网 | The Art of Short Writing
• 4. 成语故事大全 | Chinese Chengyu Short Stories

5. Chinese-Tools.com

6. 人生屋小故事大道理全集 | life house’s big list of short stories, 7. chinese reading practice, 8. 中文故事 | chinese stories, 9. mandarin companion, why you should read short stories in chinese, handy tools for reading chinese short stories.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Wattpad is a popular destination for online English readers, but did you know there are also Chinese authors on Wattpad?

Although Wattpad stories have chapters (called “parts”), they’re generally much shorter than full-on novel chapters, and cater to mobile reading.

Wattpad also has an app for iOS and Android .

Note: This site uses traditional Chinese, which is why the recommended titles below are also written in traditional characters.

Recommended Stories:

• “這樣的我 , 是否能夠喜歡那樣的你”   (zhè yàng de wǒ, shì fǒu néng gòu xǐ huān nà yàng de nǐ)  The Way That We Are, Can We Still Fall in Love — A modern romance exploring the lives of urban working millennials.
• “人生「徐」筆 (一) : 人與事”   (rén shēng xú bǐ yī : rén yǔ shì) Life Thoughts Part One — Short essays on practical wisdom, thoughtful reflection and life tips.

Pinyin: duǎn měi wén wǎng

Here’s a collection of recommended short writings, including poetry. You’ll see all the categories listed at the top of the website. 

Check out their page of classics  and other categories such as “ relationships ” and “ short stories ,” or scroll down to see featured and specially curated stories.

• “有一种青春叫宿舍”   (yǒu yī zhǒng qīng chūn jiào sù shè)  Dorm Life — On the little things only those who’ve lived in a school dorm would appreciate.
• “品 ‘笑'”   (pǐn xiào) On Laughter — A short reflection on humor.

3.  短文学网   | The Art of Short Writing

Pinyin: duǎn wén xué wǎng

This is another collection of online short stories that are worth checking out. Story categories are listed at the top of the homepage, once again.

On the right, you’ll see rankings for the most popular stories of the week. Scroll down a little bit, and you’ll see rankings for the best authors as well.

• “有一种友情叫平时不联系” (yǒuyī zhǒng yǒuqíng jiào píngshí bù liánxì) — This thoughtful piece shows that friendships can last even if you haven’t talked in a while.
• “男人和树”   (nán rén hé shù) — A nostalgic story about how trees can connect several generations. 

4.  成语故事大全   |  Chinese Chengyu Short Stories

Pinyin: chéng yǔ gù shì dà quán

Chéng yǔ , or Chinese proverbs , are important to know for every Chinese student. They crop up in a lot of literary writing and even in speech as idioms. This site gives you all the short stories behind Chinese chéng yǔ .

All their stories are shown on the same page, listed according to the idiom. You can pretty much click on any idiom and get an interesting quick read.

• “九牛一毛”   (jǐu níu yī máo) One Hair from Nine Oxen — The story behind the idiom that means something small and insignificant.
• “三人成虎”   (sān rén chéng hǔ) Three Men Talking Makes a Tiger — The story behind the idiom describing how rumors spread.

You can even venture beyond the idiom stories here and explore their collections of poetry and songs , which offer all the same tools and on-site features that make reading easier.

• “对牛弹琴”   (duì niú tán qín) Play the Lute to a Cow — It’s a story about what happens when you overestimate the sophistication and intelligence of your audience.
• “一日千里” ( yī rì qiān lǐ) A Thousand Li a Day  — The main character in this story is 造父 ( Zào fù ), a man who’s famous for being good at riding horses. 

Pinyin: rén shēng wū xiǎo gù shì dà dào lǐ quán jí

This site specializes in “life lessons,” not unlike “Chicken Soup for the Soul” kind of stories.

It has a page with a large collection of short stories sorted by category. At the end of every story you’ll find a practical application point for your life.

If you navigate to other pages on this site, you can find longer writings of life philosophy and life advice.

• “命运”   (mìng yùn) Fate — A story that teaches us not to trust in fate but to take our lives into our own hands.
• “9点到12点”   (9 diǎn dào 12 diǎn) From Nine to Twelve — A story about facing disappointments in life.

It offers short Chinese readings with an English translation, along with notes for language students. These short stories are categorized by skill level.

The site is set up like a blog, with stories shown by date and newer stories at the top. You can find categories on the right-hand column.

• “Catching Frogs”   — This is a beginner-level piece about respecting nature. A quick read, with plenty of new vocabulary related to the environment.
• “The History of Chinese Americans”   — This is an intermediate-level story on how the Chinese first started immigrating to North America, suitable for those interested in history or social studies.

Pinyin: zhōng wén gù shì

iTunes | Google Play

Here’s a great website with numerous free Chinese short stories, for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners.

You’ll have the option of downloading the stories as free e-books or going with the mobile app.

There are separate apps for different skill levels, and each one offers both free and paid stories that you can read.

Just keep in mind that the stories here are written in traditional characters!

• “中国情人节” (zhōng guó qíng rén jié) Chinese Valentine’s Day — This is a story about the holiday found within the apps and e-book for beginners.
• “年糕的由来” ( nián gāo de yóu lái) The Origin of Rice Cake — This advanced story explores the ancient legend behind 年糕 ( nián gāo ), which is a rice cake that’s served during Chinese New Year.  

Most readers will be somewhat familiar with the plots already, so you won’t have to worry about losing the story thread. These are long books, not really short stories, so they take more time commitment.

Each story is available in printed format and for digital download to your Kindle.

• “六十年的梦”   (liù shí nián dí mèng) The Sixty-Year Dream — You can learn 300 characters by reading this adaptation of “Rip Van Winkle.”
• “美好的前途” ( měi hǎo de qián tú) Great Expectations — This is based on the famous book by Charles Dickens and comes in two parts. 

It goes without saying that reading in Chinese will help with your language skills . Here are some reasons why we especially like short stories:

• They’ll grow your interest in Chinese.  Stories really draw out our emotions and entertain our minds. Reading Chinese short stories can increase your interest in Chinese culture and help you enjoy learning more.

You’re no longer thinking about good sentence structure  or what colloquialisms are most appropriate. Rather, it all comes from your “gut” knowledge.

Conveniently, you can use apps and online dictionaries for quick translations and definitions while reading short stories online:

This Google Chrome extension acts like a popup dictionary that follows you around the Internet.

Anytime you encounter Chinese text in your web browser, you can hover your mouse over the text and see definitions and pronunciations right away.

MDBG is an online dictionary that provides both traditional and simplified characters, as well as Mandarin and Cantonese pronunciations.

So for someone who’s spending time in both China and Hong Kong, or wanting to get a broader understanding of Chinese, MDBG is quite helpful.

FluentU uses video clips from authentic Chinese media to help you build your vocabulary and comprehension. You can find movie trailers, scenes from TV shows, news segments and more in the expansive video library.

Each video comes with interactive subtitles available in Chinese, pinyin and English. With the flashcard feature and personalized vocabulary quizzes, you can review new words you’ve learned from the videos. 

Offline Resources

Learning how to use a hardcopy dictionary forces you to learn Chinese radicals (the only way to look up words in the Chinese dictionary), which is extremely beneficial for mastering Chinese.

Just because you’re reading short stories online, doesn’t mean that you can’t combine it with offline learning.

Consider printing out one of those stories (which is more convenient for reading on the bus without overusing your data plan) so that you can mark it up with pencils, colorful pens and highlighters.

Chinese short stories can be a fresh and fun addition to your regular study regimen.

We hope the above short story recommendations will get you inspired!

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Words for My Family in Mandarin Chinese

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Introduce Yourself in Chinese with Self-Introduction Speech Examples

How to introduce yourself in chinese.

It is not difficult to introduce yourself in Chinese language as they are fixed answers which you memorise about yourself. However, it is not that easy to be able to understand all the variations of questions asked. Therefore, in this article, you will also learn about various ways of questioning and response, so you know they mean the same thing and handle the Chinese self-introduction with ease.

For a start, I have prepared three articles below with audio on self-introduction speech examples, changing the variation of replies in Chinese for beginners when you introduce yourself in Mandarin. The questions and answers will revolve around: –

① Chinese Greetings and Pronouns ② Your Name and Surname ③ Your Age ④ Your Country and Nationality ⑤ Your Hobby and Interest ⑥ Your Relationship and Marital Status

It is always a good practice to read and listen in Mandarin to guess the meaning of the articles before looking at the English translation.

Chinese Self-Introduction Essay and Speech Samples

你们好！ 我叫芮。 其实，芮是我的姓氏。我是华人。我来自新加坡。不过，我现在居住安特卫普，比利时的一个美丽城市。我有一个英俊的比利时男友。我会说英语、华语、广东话、法语和荷兰语。现在，我和你们一样，都在学习语言。我每天要去学校上荷兰语课。

平时，在业余时间，我写博客和上网查询资料。在周末，我喜欢和我的男朋友一起骑自行车，拍照，购物和吃饭。 我最喜欢去餐馆吃中餐。我的最爱是旅行。我去过很多国家。

那你呢？请你自我介绍，告诉我平时你喜欢做些什么？请留言。

Hāi! Dú zhě men,

Nǐ men hǎo!  Wǒ jiào Ruì. Qí shí, Ruì shì wǒ de xìng shì. Wǒ shì huá rén. Wǒ lái zì xīn jiā pō. Bù guò, wǒ xiàn zài jū zhù ān tè wèi pǔ, bǐ lì shí de yī gè měi lì chéng shì. Wǒ yǒu yīgè yīng jùn de bǐ lì shí nán yǒu. Wǒ huì shuō yīng yǔ, huá yǔ, guǎng dōng huà, fǎ yǔ hé hé lán yǔ.  Xiàn zài, wǒ hé nǐ men yī yàng, dōu zài xué xí yǔ yán. Wǒ měi tiān yào qù xué xiào shàng hé lán yǔ kè.

Píng shí, zài yè yú shí jiān, wǒ xiě bó kè hé shàng wǎng chá xún zī liào. Zài zhōu mò, wǒ xǐ huān hé wǒ de nán péng yǒu yī qǐ qí zì xíng chē, pāi zhào, gòu wù hé chī fàn. Wǒ zuì xǐ huān qù cān guǎn chī zhōng cān. Wǒ de zuì ài shì lǚ xíng. Wǒ qù guò hěn duō guó jiā.

Nà nǐ ne? Qǐng nǐ zì wǒ jiè shào, gào sù wǒ píng shí nǐ xǐ huān zuò xiē shén me? Qǐng liú yán.

Hi Readers, 

How are you? I am called Rui. In fact, Rui is my surname. I am a Chinese. I come from Singapore. However, I am now living in Antwerp, a beautiful city in Belgium. I have a handsome Belgian boyfriend. I can speak English, Mandarin, Cantonese, French, and Dutch.

Now, I am like you, learning a language too. Every day, I go to school for my Dutch class. Usually, during my spare time, I blog and surf the internet for information. During the weekend, I like to cycle with my boyfriend, take photographs, shopping and eating. I also like going to restaurants to eat Chinese food. My favourite is travelling. I have been to many countries.

How about you? Please introduce yourself. Tell me what do you usually like to do? Please leave a message.

我的名字是彼得。 我今年27岁。 我从美国来的。 我还单身，也没有女朋友。 我会说英语和一点点西班牙语。我也在学习汉语。可是，我的中文说的不太好，还可以在进步。

我想去中国旅行。我对中国的文化和语言很感兴趣。我希望找一位中国女友。我可以向她学习中文。我也能教她英语。我很好动。平时，我喜欢做运动, 例如跑步和游泳。

Hāi! Nín hǎo!

Wǒ de míng zì shì Bǐ Dé. Wǒ jīn nián 27 suì. Wǒ cóng měi guó lái de. Wǒ hái dān shēn, yě méi yǒu nǚ péng yǒu. Wǒ huì shuō yīng yǔ hé yī diǎn diǎn xī bān yá yǔ. Wǒ yě zài xué xí hàn yǔ. Kěs hì, wǒ de zhōng wén shuō de bù tài hǎo, hái kěyǐ zài jìn bù.

Wǒ xiǎng qù zhōng guó lǚ xíng. Wǒ duì zhōng guó de wén huà hé yǔ yán hěn gǎn xìng qù. Wǒ xī wàng zhǎo yī wèi zhōng guó nǚ yǒu. Wǒ kě yǐ xiàng tā xué xí zhōng wén. Wǒ yě néng jiào tā yīngyǔ. Wǒ hěn hào dòng. Píng shí, wǒ xǐ huān zuò yùn dòng, lì rú pǎo bù hé yóu yǒng.

My name is Peter. I am 27 years old this year. I come from the United States. I am still single and also do not have a girlfriend. I speak English and some Spanish. Now, I am also learning Chinese. However, I do not speak Mandarin so well. It can still be improved.

I wish to travel to China. I am very interested in Chinese culture and language. I hope to find a Chinese girlfriend. I can learn Chinese from her. I can teach her English. I am very active. Usually, I like to exercise such as jogging and swimming.

我是爱丽丝。大家都叫我丝丝。我是加拿大人。十年前，我从加拿大搬迁到台湾工作。我学了五年的中文，现在能说一口流利的华语。我现年四十岁。 我已婚，嫁给了一位台湾人。我有两个孩子，一个儿子和一个女儿。

我的嗜好是烹饪、阅读、听音乐和教书。我是一名教师。 我会说流利的英语、华语、 法语和一点点葡萄牙语。我不太喜欢做运动。不过，我很喜欢旅行，到处走走。

Hāi! Nǐ hǎo! 

Wǒ shì Ài Lì Sī. Dà jiā dōu jiào wǒ Sī Sī. Wǒ shì jiā ná dà rén. Shí nián qián, wǒ cóng jiā ná dà bān qiān dào tái wān gōng zuò. Wǒ xué le wǔ nián de zhōng wén, xiàn zài néng shuō yī kǒu liú lì de huá yǔ. Wǒ xiàn nián sì shí suì. Wǒ yǐ hūn, jià gěi le yī wèi tái wān rén. Wǒ yǒu liǎng gè há izi, yīgè er zi hé yī gè nǚ’ér.

Wǒ de shì hào shì pēng rèn, yuè dú, tīng yīn yuè hé jiāo shū. Wǒ shì yī míng jiào shī. Wǒ huì shuō liú lì de yīng yǔ, huá yǔ, fǎ yǔ hé yī diǎn diǎn pú táo yá yǔ. Wǒ bù tài xǐ huān zuò yùn dòng. Bù guò, wǒ hěn xǐ huān lǚ xíng, dào chù zǒu zǒu.

Hello, my name is Alice. Everyone call me Si Si. I’m a Canadian. Ten years ago, I relocated from Canada to work in Taiwan. I have studied Chinese for five years. Now, I speak Mandarin fluently. This year, I am 40 years old. I am married to a Taiwanese. I have two children, a son and a daughter.

My hobby is cooking, reading, listening to music and teaching. I am a teacher. I speak fluent English, Mandarin, French and a little bit of Portuguese. I do not like so much to do sports. However, I enjoy travelling and walk around.

① Chinese Greetings and Pronouns

How to say “hello” in chinese.

For the Chinese, it is common to greet in person with  嗨！你好! It has a similar connotation as “Hello, how are you?” but not a question asked like 你好吗？ to get a response. The Chinese greeting means “ You are fine! ” Since the tone of the sentence is an exclamation mark, the other party is not expected to give a reply to 你好!

The pronouns used in the three self-introduction speech in Chinese is: –

• 读者们  |    dú zhě men |  Readers
• 你们 | nǐ men | You (Plural)
• 您 |   nín | You (Formal address of someone of a higher authority, a stranger or out of courtesy)
• 你 |   nǐ | You (Singular. Informal way and most commonly used to address among friends and people)

Whenever you see the word 们 | mén , with a pronoun, it always refers to a plural form of a pronoun. You can virtually place the Chinese plural word 们 behind any nouns, but usually for humans and animals.

② What is Your Name? Introduce Yourself in Chinese

The first sentence that most people learn is likely “What is your name?”. In a more formal setting, you can be asked to introduce yourself instead of someone asking you to say your name. Both sentences can be applied at the same time too.

How to Say “What is Your Name” in Chinese?

What is your name? Please introduce yourself OR Please self-introduced.

你叫什么名字? 请介绍一下你自己。 ( 或者 | or)  请自我介绍。

Nǐ jiào shén me míng zì? Qǐng jiè shào yī xià nǐ zì jǐ. (huò zhě) Qǐng zì wǒ jiè shào.

How to Say “What is Your Surname?” in Chinese? – Formal

Here, you can see the formal pronoun 您 | you being used asking for only the surname (family name) instead of the person’s name. The person asking for only the family name wants to address the other party as Mr, Mrs or Miss + Surname.

One example is a shop assistant serving his customer. The Chinese find it more respectful to call a person by the surname when they do not know him well or when the status is higher. However, the person replying back do not need to use 您 and may use  你 instead.

I presume that if you are a foreigner especially a Caucasian, the Chinese would not ask you this question. Next time, you can also ask  您贵姓？ to Chinese people if you meet them for the first time.

What is your surname? (Polite)

您贵姓？ Nín guì xìng?

My surname is Li. How about you?

我姓李。那你呢？ Wǒ xìng Lǐ. Nà nǐ ne?

Hi, Mr Lee. My surname is Rui. Pleased to meet you! / It is an honour to meet you!

李先生，您好。我姓芮。幸会，幸会！ Lǐ xiān shēng, nǐn hǎo. Wǒ xìng Ruì. Xìng huì, xìng huì!

How to Say “Who Are You” in Chinese?

Asking someone “Who are you?” is an abrupt and less friendly way when asking for a self-introduction. However, it has to depend on the tone used and the situation. 你是谁? can have an implied meaning of curiosity, uncertainty, suspicion or fear.

Example – You went to your friend’s house to look for her. She was not at home. The mother opened the house and saw you. She asked，“ 你是谁呀? ” Then, you have to introduce yourself in Mandarin.

Who are you?

你是谁（呀)? Nǐ shì shéi (ya)?

How to Say “My Name is … ” in Chinese?

There are three ways that you can introduce yourself with “My name is ___”.

a) I am called Rui. b) My name is Peter. c) I am Alice. Everyone calls me Si Si (nickname). You can call me Alicia or Si Si.

a) 我叫芮。 b) 我的名字是彼得。 c) 我是爱丽丝。大家都叫我丝丝。你可以叫我爱丽丝或者是丝丝。

a) Wǒ jiào Ruì. b) Wǒ de míng zì shì Bǐ dé. c) Wǒ shì Ài Lì Sī. Dà jiā dōu jiào wǒ sī sī. Nǐ kě yǐ jiào wǒ Ài Lì Sī huò zhě shì Sī Sī.

③ How Old Are You?

The first two questions are common ways to ask someone their age. You can refer to the Chinese numbers of your age.

How to Say “What is Your Age” in Chinese?

What is your age?

a) 你今年几岁了？(或者 | or)  今年你几岁了？ b) 你今年多少岁了？

a) Nǐ jīn nián jǐ suì le? (huò zhě) Jīn nián nǐ jǐ suì le? b) Nǐ jīn nián duō shǎo suì le?

How to Say “How Old are You” in Chinese?

To ask someone’s age, “How OLD” in Chinese, is not a direct translation of the English word “old”. The literal translation of “How old” would be “ 多老 “. “老” means aged, senior. Please do not ask someone “ 你多老? ” because the Chinese will never ask a person’s age this way. It is quite offensive to use the Chinese word 老 | lǎo when talking to someone.

Instead, we use the phrase “how big – 多大 ” to ask someone’s age. Note that the phrase “ 多大 ” can have an ambiguous meaning. It can directly refer to the size of the object that you are discussing and not about age. The preferred sentence is still 你今年几岁了？ when meeting someone for the first time.

How old are you?

a) 你多大年纪？ b) 你多大年龄? c) 你多大了?

a) Nǐ duō dà nián jì?  b) Nǐ duō dà nián líng? c) Nǐ duō dà le?

How to Say “How old are you” in a Formal Way?

However, it is considered abrupt and rude to ask a senior, elderly or someone respectable on their age with the sentence construction above. In a formal situation or writing, we ask people on their age with 您今年贵庚? It is more polite asking when you hold high regard for someone.

How old are you? (Formal)

您今年贵庚? Nín jīn nián guì gēng?

How to Say “Your Age” in Chinese?

It is easy to say your age in Chinese. There are not many variations. You only have to know the Chinese numbers so you can tell your age to others.

I am 35 years old this year.

我今年35岁。 Wǒ jīn nián sān shí wǔ suì.

Pardon! My Age is Confidential!

Women are more reserved and sensitive when it comes to divulging their age especially Chinese women. Looks matter to many of them and they care about how people look at them.

Many of them also spend a lot of money, time and effort to maintain their youth. They hope to give a lasting impression of looking young forever.

Therefore, if you do not know a Chinese woman long enough, refrain from asking her age as you never know how she feels about telling it to you. Maybe she is fine with the question. Or, perhaps she does not like it and would not say it frankly.

Sorry, my age is a secret. Woman‘s age is always confidential.

不好意思，我的年龄是秘密。 女人的年龄是保密的。 Bù hǎo yì si, wǒ de nián líng shì mì mì. Nǚrén de nián líng shì bǎo mì de.

④ Where Are You From?

When someone asks you “where are you from”, you can tell them either your country of origin or your nationality. It is not necessary to say both unless you have a different nationality than that of the country that you live.

How to Say ” Where are you from” in Chinese?

Where are you from? 

你从哪里来？(或者 | or) 你来自哪里？ Nǐ cóng nǎ lǐ lái? (huò zhě) Nǐ lái zì nǎ lǐ?

How to Say “Which country are you from” in Chinese?

Which country are you from?

你来自什么国家?  (或者 | or) 你从什么国家来的？ Nǐ lái zì shén me guó jiā? (huò zhě) Nǐ cóng shén me guó jiā lái de?

How to Say “What is Your Nationality” in Chinese?

How to say Nationality  国籍 | Guó jí in Chinese? Most of the time, you use the ｛name of the country + 人 ｜people｝to derive the nationality.

Which country are you from? OR Who are you?

a) 你是什么国家的人? (或者 | or) 你是什么人？ b) 你是哪里人?

a) Nǐ lái zì shén me guó jiā?  (huò zhě) Nǐ cóng shén me guó jiā lái de? b) Nǐ shì nǎ lǐ rén?

How to Say “Do You Come from (Country)” or “Are You (Nationality)” in Chinese?

Do you come from America? Are you an American?

你从美国来的吗？你是美国人吗？ Nǐ cóng měi guó lái de ma? Nǐ shì měi guó rén ma?

How to Say “Your Country and Nationality” in Chinese?

I am American, from California.

我是美国人，来自加州。 Wǒ shì měi guó rén, lái zì jiā zhōu.

I come from Germany (or) I am from Germany (Berlin).

我从德国来  (或者 | or) 我来自德国(柏林)。 Wǒ cóng dé guó lái (huò zhě) wǒ lái zì dé guó (bó lín).

I come from Italy but I am a Turk.

我来自意大利，但我是土耳其人。 Wǒ lái zì yì dà lì, dàn wǒ shì tǔ’ěr qí rén.

I am not Dutch. I am French.

我不是荷兰人。我是法国人。 Wǒ bù shì hé lán rén. Wǒ shì fà guó rén.

I do not come from England. I am Australian.

我不是从英国来的。我是澳大利亚人。 Wǒ bù shì cóng yīng guó lái de. Wǒ shì ào dà lì yǎ rén.

⑤ What Do You Like to Do? Hobby and Interest

The questions below are all referring to the same things. That is your hobbies and interests. Sometimes, the word 平时 ｜ píng shí is added and means ‘usually’. I will prepare a list of activities about hobbies and interests in the near future so you can make references to what you like to do.

How to Say “What Do You Like to Do” in Chinese?

What do you like to do?

你喜欢做(些)什么？ Nǐ xǐ huān zuò (xiē) shén me?

I like jogging and swimming.

我喜欢跑步和游泳。 Wǒ xǐ huān pǎo bù hé yóu yǒng.

How to Say “What is Your Interest” in Chinese?

What is your interest?

你的兴趣是什么？ Nǐ de xìng qù shì shén me?

My interest is surfing the net and shopping.

我的兴趣是上网和逛街。 Wǒ de xìngqù shì shàng wǎng hé guàng jiē.

How to Say “What is Your Hobby” in Chinese?

What is your hobby?

你的嗜好是什么 你的爱好是什么?

Nǐ de shì hào shì shén me? Nǐ de ài hào shì shén me?

My hobby is reading, listing to music and watching movies.

我的嗜好是。。。阅读、听音乐和看电影。 Wǒ de shì hào shì yuè dú, tīng yīn yuè hé kàn diàn yǐng.

⑥ What is Your Marital Status?

Western men looking for a Chinese girlfriend would always be happy to declare that he is single and available. He also wants to know whether they are still single and available or married. It is just an illustration and applies to anyone who wants to say about their relationship status.

How to Say “What is Your Marital Status” or “Relationship Status” in Chinese?

To be honest, I have never had anyone asked me about my marital status 你的婚姻状况是什么? except when filling up forms because it sounds too formal. Many would just ask me about my relationship status “Are you married?” or “Do you have a boyfriend?”

It is always good to know the Chinese phrase ‘marital status’ for administration purpose and the different status as part of introducing yourself in Chinese to others.

What is your Marital Status?

你的婚姻状况是什么？ Nǐ de hūn yīn zhuàng kuàng shì shén me?

How to Say “Are You Single” in Chinese?

Most importantly, people want to know whether you are single or married.

Are you single? OR Are you still single?

你单身吗？( 或者 | or)  你还单身吗？ Nǐ dān shēn ma? (huò zhě) Nǐ hái dān shēn ma?

How to Say “Do You Have a Boyfriend” in Chinese?

Do you have a boyfriend?

你有男朋友吗？ Nǐ yǒu nán péng yǒu ma?

Are you seeing anybody? Do you have someone in mind?

你有对象吗？ Nǐ yǒu duì xiàng ma?

How to Say “Are You Married” in Chinese?

Are you married?

你结婚了吗？ Nǐ jié hūn le ma?

How to Say “I am Single” in Chinese?

I am single and have no girlfriend.

我单身, 也没有女朋友。 Wǒ dān shēn, yě méi yǒu nǚ péng yǒu.

I am still single but I have a boyfriend.

我还单身, 但是我有一个男朋友。 Wǒ hái dān shēn, dàn shì wǒ yǒu yī gè nán péng yǒu.

I am not married.

我未婚 ( 或者 | or) 我还没结婚。 Wǒ wèi hūn (huò zhě) Wǒ hái méi jié hūn.

How to Say “Got Engaged, Fiance and Fiancee” in Chinese?

I am engaged. He is my fiance. She is my fiancee.

我订婚了。 他是我的未婚夫。 她是我的未婚妻。

Wǒ dìng hūn le. Tā shì wǒ de wèi hūn fū. Tā shì wǒ de wèi hūn qī.

How to Say “I am Married” in Chinese?

I am married.

我已婚 (或者 | or) 我结婚了。 Wǒ yǐ hūn (huò zhě) Wǒ jié hūn le.

How to Say “I am Divorced or a Divorcee” in Chinese?

I am divorced. I am a divorcee.

我离婚了。 我是离婚者。 Wǒ lí hūn le. Wǒ shì lí hūn zhě.

How to Say “I am Separated” in Chinese?

I am in the midst of a separation.

我在分居状态中。 Wǒ zài fēn jū zhuàng tài zhōng.

How to Say “Widow” and “Widower” in Chinese?

For widows and widowers, it is not necessary to mention that. The Chinese might find it awkward to reply back. Just say that you are still single if you do not want to be too frank. After all, the Chinese are usually reserved people if you do not know them well and would not go too deep into such a topic.

I would think that not many people would say upfront that “I am a widow or widower” as it is somewhat private to use as a self-introduction in Chinese. Nonetheless, the Chinese sentences below are for information.

I am a widow. My husband passed away two years ago.

我是个寡妇。我的丈夫2年前去世了。 Wǒ shì gè guǎ fù. Wǒ de zhàng fū liǎng nián qián qù shì le.

I am a widower. My wife recently passed away due to sickness.

我是个鳏夫。我的妻子不久前病世了。 Wǒ shì gè guān fū. Wǒ de qī zi bù jiǔ qián bìng shì le.

Your Turn to Introduce Yourself in Chinese

So, now is your turn. Leave a reply to me in Chinese (or English) and tell us about yourself. 请你告诉我，平时你喜欢做些什么呢？ Take it as a practice and show us what you have learnt. I will reply back to you 🙂

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my name is haleema sadia .im from india .im 18 yrs old.i love chinese culture and languagei started studying chinese from 2 months.i want to visit china as soon as possible.

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The Guide to Writing Your First Mandarin Essay

When you want to be able to make writing your first Mandarin essay nice and easy, it pays to put plenty of thought and effort into the preparation. As the old saying goes ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail.’ To give you plenty of food for thought we’ve put together everything you need to know to get things moving. All you need to do is work through the following steps, and you’ll be submitting your essay in no time at all.

Check you understand the basics

There are so many things you have to think about when writing an essay, particularly when it’s not in your native language. But as with any cognitively demanding task, the process for getting started is always the same. Check you understand the following basics and you’ll be heading in the right direction:

• Do you know what the question means?
• Have you made a note of the final submission date?
• Make sure you read some past examples to get a feel for what’s expected of you
• Do you understand the question that has been set?
• Do you know who you can talk to if you need advice along the way?
• Are there any restrictions on the dialect you should be aware of?

Once you can write the answers to the above down on a single side of the paper, you are ready to tackle the main part of the problem: putting pen to paper.

Set aside time to write

The chances are that you’re not going to be able to pen the entire essay in a single sitting, and that’s okay. It’s nothing to be ashamed of or to worry about, and it’s natural that you need to work across multiple days when writing your first essay.

If you want to be able to make great progress, the most important thing is sticking to a routine. You need to have consistency in your application, and you need to be able to know when you are at your most productive. It’s no good staying up late one night and then carrying on early the next morning. You’d be far better off writing for the same amount of time but on two successive afternoons. Think about how your studies fit in with the rest of your daily life, and then choose the time that seems most appropriate. If you box it off and decide it’s only for writing, you’ll be in a great routine before you even know it.

Clear space so you can focus

As well as having time to write each day, you need a place to write too. The world is full of distractions (most of them are digital and social) so that means you’re going to want to keep yourself to yourself, and your phone in a different room. It might seem a little boring or uncomfortable at first, but you need to practice the habit of deep work. It’s what will allow you to create the most in the shortest time — ideal if you want to have plenty of time leftover to spend doing the other things that matter to you.

Have a daily word count in mind

Telling yourself that you want to write an essay today is one thing, but if you’re really going to push yourself to stick to your goal then you need to get quantitative. If you have a word count in mind that you need to hit, then it will prevent you from giving up and throwing in the towel the minute you start having to think and concentrate more than feels normal. Just like working out in the gym, it’s the temporary moments of extra effort that really drive the big differences. It’s when you’ll see the biggest improvement in your writing ability, and the lessons you teach yourself will stay with you for years to come. Ideal if you want to become a fluent Mandarin writer, as well as an engaging face-to-face speaker.

Read widely to provide context

When you’re immersed in an essay it can be all too easy to become blinkered and fail to pay attention to everything else that’s going on around you. Of course, you want to be focused on the task at hand, but you don’t want to be single-minded to the point of ignoring other great learning resources that are just a click away.

Reading widely is one of the best ways to improve your essay writing because it exposes you to techniques and approaches used by the best of the best. You’re not expected to be able to instantly write like a native speaker after an hour of reading. But what you will be able to do with consistent application is build up confidence and familiarity with written Mandarin. Over time this will reflect on the quality and depth of your writing as you gradually improve and take onboard lessons you’ve learned.

Take a break before you proofread

Last but not least, you need to remember that essay writing is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s all about taking the time to get things written before you hand them in, not racing through to try and finish on time. If you want to get the most out of your writing you need to take a day off between finishing your draft and proofing it. That way your brain will have had plenty of time to reflect on the work you’ve produced, and you’ll be able to spot many more little mistakes and places for improvement than you would if you proofed right away.

Final Thoughts

Writing Mandarin is a challenging task that will test your language skills and make you think hard about how to apply what you’ve learned so far. It might be slow going to begin with, but that’s great as it means you’re pushing your limits and building on your existing skills. If you want to be able to master Mandarin, you need to persevere and stay the course. Once you do, you’ll start to improve a lot faster than you expect.

By Diana Adjadj | A Super Chineasian

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LinguaJunkie.com

A very cranky language blogger dishing out brutal language tips.

How to Introduce Yourself in Chinese in 10 Lines

Want to speak Chinese? Yes? Good – keep reading. This is for those that truly want to learn the language. Here’s how you introduce yourself in Chinese in 10 easy lines … and this might take you 2 to 3 minutes or less. With this lesson…

• You get the Chinese, translations and romanizations.
• Read out loud to practice your speaking.
• Feel free to print this sheet out for extra review.

Here’s how you introduce yourself in Chinese. Let’s go.

And if you REALLY want to learn to Chinese with effective audio & video lessons by real teachers – Sign up at ChineseClass101 (click here) and start learning!

1) Hello, It’s nice to meet you.

Hello and Nice to meet you in Chinese are a must-know phrases. And any introduction will probably will start with these words.

• Hello, it’s nice to meet you.
• nínhǎo , hěn gāoxìng jiàn dào nǐ.

2) My name is _____.

This is simple. To say “my name is” in Chinese, you just need the phrase “Wǒ de míngzi shì.” Then say your name. For example, if the name is Lian, it would be like this…

• My name is Lian.
• Wǒ de míngzi shì lián.

3) I am from ______.

So, where are you from? America? Europe? Africa? Asia? Just stick the name of your country inside this phrase. We’ll use China as an example.

• I’m from China.
• Wǒ láizì Zhōngguó.
• 我来自中国。 我来自中国。

4) I live in ______.

What about now – where do you live? Just fill in the blank with the country or city (if famous) into this phrase. I’ll use Beijing as an example. You can use your own.

• I live in Beijing.
• Wǒ zhù zài Běijīng.

5) I’ve been learning Chinese for _____.

How long have you been learning Chinese for? A month? A year?

• I’ve been learning Chinese for a year.
• Wǒ xuéxí Zhōngwén yǐjīng yī nián le.
• 我学习中文已经1年了。 我学习中文已经1年了。

6) I’m learning Chinese at _____.

Where are you learning Chinese? At school? At home? This would be a great line to know and use when you’re introducing yourself. Here’s my example:

• I’m learning Chinese at ChineseClass101.com.
• Wǒ zài ChineseClassyīlíng yī .com wǎngzhàn xuéxí Zhōngwén.
• 我在ChineseClass101.com网站学习中文。

7) I am ____ years old.

Here’s how to say how old you are in Chinese.

• I’m 27 years old.
• Wǒ èrshíqī suì.

8) I am ______.

What about your position? Are you a student? Yoga teacher? Lawyer for the potato industry? Potato salesman? Super important question that people like to ask (and judge you about – Hey, I’m just a blogger! ). Just use “ani” meaning “I” and add your position.

• I’m a teacher.
• Wǒ shì yī míng jiàoshī.

9) One of my hobbies is _____.

Now, let’s move onto personal interests – hobbies! My hobbies are languages, linguajunkieing and such. How about you? You’ll definitely need this line when introducing yourself in Chinese.

Here’s an example to use:

• One of my hobbies is reading.
• Dúshū shì Wǒ de àihào zhīyī.

10) I enjoy listening to music.

Now, this is just another example line about your hobbies . You can use something else where.

• I enjoy listening to music.
• Wǒ xǐhuān tīng yīnyuè.

So now you know how to introduce yourself in Chinese in 10 lines. I’m sure there’s a ton more you can say – but this is an easy, simple start that any beginner can put to use. It’s all about starting easy.

See if you can introduce yourself below. Leave me a comment.

I read all comments!

Hope you enjoyed this!

– The Main Junkie

P.S. I highly recommend this for Chinese learners. If you REALLY want to learn to Chinese with effective lessons by real teachers – Sign up for free at ChineseClass101 (click here) and start learning!