If you're looking for a way to express your love of family, we love the beauty and simplicity of Chinese characters for family and family members. Not only have some characters remained virtually unchanged through millennia, but the way they interrelate with each other is fascinating.
This collection of the most popular Chinese symbols for family is ready to print and use in all kind of projects. There's a symbol for every kind of family relationship, so there's one here that will be perfect for you and your loved ones, especially if you have Chinese heritage.
Chinese Symbols for the Whole Family
The character for family has been around for about 3,000 years almost unchanged. This symbol means both family and home. The three main ways to refer to one's family is family/home (jiā), persons in my family (jiā rén), and family/household (jiā tíng), the latter being the more formal.
Click on any symbol to get a PDF you can print. If you need help, consult the Guide for Adobe Printables.
Family / home (jiā)
Family / family members (jiā rén)
Family / household (jiā tíng)
Symbols for Parents
In Chinese, the symbol for parents is composed of the first two characters of mother and father. If you were to do this in English, the resulting word would be "fa-mo." Additionally, both father and mother have formal and informal forms of address. Sweetly enough, the formal terms literally mean dear mother and dear father, while the informal way sounds like a baby's first words. Take a look at the symbols and see if you can make out the man with hat in each character for dad, and the lady holding a baby in each character for mom.
Related: Chinese Family Values
Parents (fù mǔ)
Father (fù qīn)
Dad (bà ba)
Mother (mǔ qin)
Mom (mā ma)
Symbols for Siblings
Your brother, sister, or sibling of any gender is a special person in your life, and Chinese characters for siblings can help you express that. You might find it interesting to know that these terms encompass both older siblings and younger siblings.
Siblings both genders (xiōng dì jiě mèi)
Siblings - only brothers (xiōng dì)
Siblings - only sisters (jiě mèi)
In Chinese and other Asian cultures that have been influenced by Confucianism, it's sometimes of special importance to acknowledge seniority. Because of this, older and younger siblings each have their term of address. For twins, whoever is born first is the elder.
Interestingly, some people feel it's important to treat everyone as family, even strangers. Because of this, it is common for people of similar ages to call each other brother or sister.
Older brother (gē ge)
Younger brother (dì dì)
Older sister (jiě jie)
Younger sister (mèi mei)
Symbols for Grandparents
The Chinese characters for grandparents are almost the same as parents but with the inclusion of the character that signals they are before the parents, the ancestors. Each side of the family has its own terms of address, and while confusing at first, it helps give everyone their special place. Below are the most commonly used terms, although there are more formal ones too. Pay close attention to the similar strokes for the men and the shared strokes for the women.
Grandparents (zǔ fù mǔ)
Paternal grandpa (yé ye)
Paternal grandma (nǎi nai)
Maternal grandpa (lǎo ye)
Maternal grandma (lǎo lao)
If you have Chinese heritage, a tattoo with the symbol for a family member can be a great way to honor your loved one and your relationship with them. These symbols are beautiful, and they're a natural choice for a tattoo you'll love for years to come.
Symbols for Uncle and Aunt
There are quite a few terms to address aunts and uncles. They vary depending on which side of the family, whose brother or sister they are, and if they are older or younger than the person's parents. However, there are two all-purpose terms that can be used in general, not only for family members, but also for everyone else who is of an age similar to one's aunts and uncles, even total strangers!
Uncle (shū shu)
Auntie (ā yí)
Symbols for Spouses
The most popular Chinese word for spouse is beloved; it is composed by the characters for love and person. There are, of course, several terms of endearment and also formal terms for spouses to call each other and to be called by others, however these are the two most commonly used:
Spouse (Ài rén)
Husband (zhàng fū)
Wife (qī zi)
Symbols for Children
Children in Chinese is composed by two characters: The first means child, and the second refers to whether the child is a son or daughter. Because these indicate gender, they may not be appropriate for everyone.
Children (hái zi)
Son (ér zi)
Daughter (nǚ'ér)
Chinese Family Symbols Embrace Your Heritage
If you have Chinese ancestors or have grown up in a family that embraces Chinese culture, these symbols are a perfect way to express that. Some of these beautiful Chinese symbols for family have been around for thousands of years. Have fun printing some of these and incorporating them into a project close to your heart.
