Mandarin essentials: Talk about your family — 爸爸、妈妈、哥哥、妹妹
Families are a perfect place to start speaking Mandarin. In this lesson, you’ll learn common family words, easy sentence patterns to say “my mom,” “I have a brother,” and how to ask “Who is this?” Along the way, you’ll practice with quick exercises and pick up cultural tips about how Chinese speakers use titles.
Core family words
These are high-frequency words you’ll hear in daily life. Notice that many family words are two characters and often repeat a syllable (like 爸爸, 妈妈) — this gives a friendly, familiar tone.
爸爸
dad; father
noun
这是我爸爸。
This is my dad.
妈妈
mom; mother
noun
我妈妈在家。
My mom is at home.
哥哥
older brother
noun
他是我的哥哥。
He is my older brother.
姐姐
older sister
noun
她是我姐姐。
She is my older sister.
弟弟
younger brother
noun
我有一个弟弟。
I have one younger brother.
妹妹
younger sister
noun
我有两个妹妹。
I have two younger sisters.
爷爷
grandfather (father’s father)
noun
爷爷在看书。
Grandpa is reading.
奶奶
grandmother (father’s mother)
noun
奶奶喜欢喝茶。
Grandma likes to drink tea.
外公
grandfather (mother’s father)
noun
外公住在上海。
Grandpa (mother’s side) lives in Shanghai.
外婆
grandmother (mother’s mother)
noun
外婆做菜很好吃。
Grandma (mother’s side) cooks delicious food.
叔叔
uncle (father’s younger brother); politely for an older man
noun
那位叔叔是老师。
That uncle (man) is a teacher.
阿姨
aunt (mother’s sister); politely for an older woman
noun
那位阿姨很热情。
That aunt (woman) is very warm.
儿子
son
noun
她有一个儿子。
She has a son.
女儿
daughter
noun
他有两个女儿。
He has two daughters.
家人
family member(s)
noun
我的家人住在北京。
My family members live in Beijing.
家home/family人person/people
Example: identify and introduce
Mandarin
这是我妈妈。
This is my mom.
Mandarin
他是我的哥哥。
He is my older brother.
她是我的是姐姐。→她是我的姐姐。的 appears once: 我的姐姐. Double 的 is incorrect.
Counting family members with 有 and 个
Mandarin
我有一个哥哥。
I have one older brother.
Mandarin
我没有妹妹。
I don’t have a younger sister.
我有是两个姐姐。→我有两个姐姐。Never use 是 with 有 in this structure.
我有哥哥。
这是我。
Quick check: family words and patterns
🧠Family basics (A1)
correct
Asking “Who is this?” and pointing to people
Mandarin
这是谁？
Who is this?
Mandarin
他是谁？
Who is he?
Mandarin
她是我姐姐。
She is my older sister.
💬Put the mini-dialogue in order
🔠Put the words in order
She is my younger sister.
🔠Put the words in order
I have two older sisters.
Cultural tip: using titles instead of names
Mini practice: mix and match
Mandarin
那是我的外婆。
That is my grandmother (mother’s mother).
Mandarin
我没有哥哥，我有一个弟弟。
I don’t have an older brother; I have one younger brother.
那是我的家。
我有一弟弟。→我有一个弟弟。Add the measure word 个 between 数字 and 人。
Review checklist
Learn and use core family words: 爸爸、妈妈、哥哥、姐姐、弟弟、妹妹、爷爷、奶奶、外公、外婆
Say possession with 的: 我的妈妈 / 我妈妈
Count people with 有 + 个: 我有一个弟弟
Ask and identify with 这/那 + 是: 这是谁？这是我爸爸。
Use polite titles 叔叔 / 阿姨 for older adults
You’ve got the building blocks to talk about family in Mandarin. Keep practicing by introducing your real family, or inventing a mini family for fun. Try recording yourself: say three sentences — “这是我妈妈。” “我有一个哥哥。” “他是我的爷爷。” Little daily reps add up. 加油！