A Dream Come True - Chinese Calculator for Family Relationships

In our English culture, we don't really have  'special' names when we call our 'aunts' and 'uncles' or "nephews" and "nieces".  It doesn't matter which side of the family they are on, the father's side or the mother's side, we use these general terms to call them.

But in the Chinese culture, family relationship have 'specific' names!  

You can't just call the relatives "aunt" and "uncle".

• If it is your mom's elder sister, you call her:  姨媽 - yi ma
• If it is your mom's younger sister, you call you call her:    姨 - yi
• If it is your dad's younger sister, you call her:  姑姑 
• If it is your dad's oldest brother, you call him:  大伯 
• If it is your dad's younger brother, you call him:  叔 
• If it is your mom's brother, you call him:  舅舅 

So by calling the 'specific' names, you right away know which side of the family it is.

In the English culture, we call each other cousins.  

But in the Chinese culture, even cousins have different names depending on which side of the family.  

All this is very complicated.

So whenever we meet up for family gatherings for New Year, there's usually a long time spent to figure out how to greet each other - this is part of the chinese culture fun.  

And if you have a big family like I do, you would need this calculator that I found on the net!

You key in the relationship to find out the exact name for that relationship.

For eg. You want to find out the name for your mom's elder sister.

You click: 

1. 父母
2. 的
3. 姐
4.  =

Voila, you get the answer:  姨媽

==> I found this Relationship Calculator on the net.  

You won't get it wrong this coming Chinese new year!
你过年就不会叫错了！ 

Have Fun!

Rosa

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