Chinese phrases
How to say family in Chinese
Family in Chinese is 家人 (jiā rén), the people in your family. In speech you often just say 家 (jiā): 我家 means “my family” and also “my home.”
家人
family; family members
Ways to say family
家人
Everydayfamily; family members
The people in your family, as in 我很想家人, “I miss my family.”
家
Everydayfamily; home
Home and family in one word. 我家 is “my family” or “my home,” and 回家 is “go home.”
家里人
Everydaythe people at home
Spoken and warm: the people you live with or grew up with. 家里人都好吗? “Is everyone at home well?”
一家人
Everydayone family
The whole family, or people who treat each other as family: 都是一家人，别客气, “we’re family, don’t stand on ceremony.”
全家
Everydaythe whole family
Everyone together: 我们全家去旅游了, “the whole family went on a trip.” A family photo is a 全家福.
家庭
Writtenfamily; household
The family as a unit, in forms, news and school: 家庭作业 is homework, 家庭成员 are family members.
亲戚
Everydayrelatives
The wider family: aunts, uncles, cousins and in-laws. Many people see them once a year, at Spring Festival.
How many people are in your family?
People in a family are counted with 口, not 个. You count yourself too.
你家有几口人？
how many people are in your family?
A common question when people get to know you.
我家有三口人。
there are three of us in my family
Often parents and one child.
你有兄弟姐妹吗？
do you have brothers and sisters?
Often the next question.
Common mistakes
Counting your family with 个
我家有三个人 is understood, but people say 三口人. 口 is the word for counting the people in a household.
家庭 in conversation
我的家庭 sounds like the title of a school essay. In speech, say 我家 or 我的家人.
家人 for all your relatives
家人 usually means your close family: parents, partner, children, brothers and sisters. Aunts, uncles and cousins are 亲戚.
Getting to know each other
你家有几口人？
Qiqi: How many people are in your family?
四口人，爸爸妈妈、姐姐和我。
Leon: Four: my mom and dad, my older sister and me.
你会想家人吗？
Qiqi: Do you miss your family?
会，特别是过节的时候。
Leon: I do, especially at holidays.
