Chinese New Year is the time when everybody is back for reunion dinner.. thus it is also the time when I get to meet all my relatives, from both sides of my parents..
Unlike Westerners, Chinese are very particular about family hierarchy and each family member has to be addressed accordingly. Not everyone is an "uncle", an "aunt" or a "cousin". Also age is not a determinant as one could be young and still "rank" highly in the family hierarchy.. Thus one could be addressed as "uncle" by someone who is much older than he is.
With 10 paternal uncles and 11 maternal uncles/aunties, I was utterly confused as to who should be called what when I was young.. I could still remember the time when I need to ask my mum for the correct "rank name" every time I meet a relative.. :x
Here is a short guide..
The Elders
Paternal grandparents - 祖父、祖母（in Hokkien, 阿公、阿嬷)
Paternal uncle (Father's elder brothers) & his wife - 伯伯、伯母
Paternal uncle (Father's younger brothers) & his wife - 叔叔、婶婶
Paternal aunt (Father's elder/younger sisters) & her husband - 姑姑、姑丈
Maternal grandparents - 外公、外婆（in Hokkien, 外公、外嬷)
Maternal uncle (Mother's elder/younger brothers) & his wife - 舅舅、舅母
Maternal aunt (Mother's elder/younger sisters) & her husband - 阿姨、姨丈
Peers
Paternal cousin brother (elder) & his wife - 堂兄、堂嫂
Paternal cousin brother (younger) & his wife - 堂弟、堂弟媳
Paternal cousin sister (elder) & her husband - 堂姐、堂姐夫
Paternal cousin sister (younger) & her husband - 堂妹、堂妹夫
Maternal cousin brother (elder) & his wife - 表兄、表嫂
Maternal cousin brother (younger) & his wife - 表弟、表弟媳
Maternal cousin sister (elder) & her husband - 表姐、表姐夫
Maternal cousin sister (younger) & her husband - 表妹、表妹夫
The Children
Children of one's brothers - 侄儿、侄女
Children of one's sisters - 外甥、外甥女
Children of paternal cousin brothers - 堂侄儿、堂侄女
Children of paternal cousin sisters - 堂外甥、堂外甥女
Children of maternal cousins brothers - 表侄儿、表侄女
Children of maternal cousins sisters - 表外甥、表外甥女
The above are just the generic Chinese family hierarchy namings in Malaysia, which is slightly different from those of Mainland China. Also the list above is not exhaustive as I have left out paternal/maternal grand-uncles/aunts and paternal/maternal cousin uncles/aunts..
Furthermore, these family ranks are pronounced differently according to the dialect groups that one belongs to. Also, each family/clan has their own forms of greetings/addressing. Sometimes first names are combined with their ranks, while other times their rank among the family is used. For example, the 3rd paternal uncle could be addressed as 三叔 (meaning 3rd uncle）by the children of his older brothers，三伯 by the children of his younger brothers，国明堂伯 (meaning cousin uncle Kok Ming, with Kok Ming being his name) by the children of his younger paternal cousin brothers and 国明表叔 by the children of his older maternal cousin brothers. ( Confused yet?? :p :p :p :p :p :p )
As I get older, the number of elders in the family dwindles while the children of my peers increase.. So I have been "promoted" to 堂姑、表姑 and 表姨.. :) thus being an elder now, I can address these younger generations by their names which make things much easier.. :)
1 comment:
Imm,this is a cool explanation into Chinese culture. And I thought Japanese culture was complex. Have you ever considered doing vlogs? (eg-Youtube). I think u would be an outstanding vlogger judging from this blog.
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