Learn Mandarin Chinese Family and Relationships

Question 1

What is the Mandarin word for 'mother'?

Accepted Answer

妈妈 (māma)

Answer

妈妈 (māma) means 'mother' in Mandarin and is one of the first family words learners study.

Question 2

How do you say 'father' in Mandarin Chinese?

Accepted Answer

爸爸 (bàba)

Answer

爸爸 (bàba) means 'father' or 'dad' in Mandarin, similar to the English informal 'baba'.

Question 3

What does 姐姐 (jiějie) mean in Mandarin?

Accepted Answer

Older sister

Answer

姐姐 (jiějie) specifically means 'older sister'; Mandarin distinguishes between older and younger siblings.

Question 4

Which Mandarin word means 'older brother'?

Accepted Answer

哥哥 (gēge)

Answer

哥哥 (gēge) means 'older brother'; the ge sound is associated with older male siblings.

Question 5

What is the Mandarin term for paternal grandmother?

Accepted Answer

奶奶 (nǎinai)

Answer

奶奶 (nǎinai) refers specifically to your father's mother (paternal grandmother) in standard Mandarin.

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