Call Your Uncles And Aunties Properly This CNY 2025

It’s that time of the year when you’d struggle and look at your parents for answers. No “aunty” or “uncle” allowed because it’s all about respect and proper greetings in order to get that bright red packet. If you’re always stumped at CNY, here’s a quick walkthrough on how to address your different relatives in Chinese.

Your family tree in Chinese

Note that all titles stated are in relation to you. It will be entirely different if it’s for your kids; in that case, just replace “yourself” in the family tree with your little ones. 

How to address your grandparents in Chinese:

Paternal grandparents

• Grandpa: 爷爷 (yé ye) / 阿公 (ā gōng)
• Grandma: 奶奶 (nǎi nai) / 阿嬤 (ā mà)

Maternal grandparents

• Grandpa: 外公 (wài gōng)
• Grandma: 外婆 (wài pó)

How to address your uncles and aunties in Chinese

Paternal uncles and aunties

• Father’s older brother – 伯伯 (bó bó)
• Father’s younger brother – 叔叔 (shú shu)
• Father’s older brother’s wife – 伯母 (bó mǔ)
• Father’s younger brother’s wife – 婶婶 (shěn shen)
• Father’s sister – 姑姑 (gū gu)
• Father’s sister’s husband – 姑丈 (gū zhàng)

Maternal uncles and aunties

• Mother’s brother – 舅舅 (jiù jiu)
• Mother’s sister – 姨妈 (yí mā)
• Mother’s brother’s wife – 舅妈 (jiù mā)
• Mother’s sister’s husband – 姨丈 (yí zhàng)

How to address your cousins in Chinese

I don’t know about you, but since growing up, I’ve never once addressed my cousins formally. I’d usually call them jie jie, kor kor, mei mei, di di. It’s also more like “hello, (insert name here) kor kor / jie jie.” But just in case you’re tested, here’s how you should actually be calling them.

Paternal cousins

• Older male cousin – 堂哥 (táng gē)
• Younger male cousin – 堂弟 (táng dì)
• Older female cousin – 堂姐 (táng jiě)
• Younger female cousin – 堂妹 (táng mèi)

Maternal cousins

• Older male cousin – 表哥 (biǎo gē)
• Younger male cousin – 表弟 (biǎo dì)
• Older female cousin – 表姐 (biǎo jiě)
• Younger female cousin – 表妹 (biǎo mèi)

Arm your arsenal with more than just “uncle” and “aunty” this CNY 2025

With all these proper terms, you’ll definitely be getting those ang baos this year. Remember to practise and get well-acquainted with them lest you stumble on the actual day. And if you want to leave a more lasting impression, bring along some of the best pineapple tarts and kueh bangkit in Singapore as gifts!