Weddings, babies, bringing up children, in-laws and the wider family.
Chinese names relatives far more exactly than English. There is no word for “uncle” as such: a father’s elder brother is 伯伯, his younger brother 叔叔, a mother’s brother 舅舅. Grandchildren are split the same way, by whether they come through a son (孙子) or a daughter (外孙), and 外, “outside”, marks the mother’s and the daughter’s side. Age and generation matter too: 长辈 and 晚辈 say who owes whom respect.
The words
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Verb (12)
订婚to get engagedVerb4
他们订婚一年以后才结婚。They married a year after getting engaged.
怀孕to be pregnantVerb4
她怀孕五个月了。She is five months pregnant.
生孩子to have a baby; to give birthVerb4
很多年轻夫妻不急着生孩子。Many young couples are in no hurry to have children.
出生to be bornVerb4
我出生在一个小城市。I was born in a small town.
养to raise; to bring up; to keep (pets)Verb4
父母养大三个孩子很不容易。Bringing up three children is not easy for parents.
Also to support someone financially, or to keep an animal.
照顾to look after; to take care ofVerb4
我出差的时候，奶奶帮我照顾孩子。When I'm away on business, Grandma looks after the children for me.
带孩子to look after childrenVerb4
爷爷奶奶退休以后在家帮忙带孩子。Since retiring, Grandpa and Grandma help out at home by minding the children.
宠to spoil; to dote onVerb4
爷爷太宠孩子了，要什么就给什么。Grandpa spoils the child far too much: whatever he wants, he gets.
抚养to bring up; to raiseVerb4
她一个人把两个孩子抚养大。She brought up two children on her own.
More formal than 养.
领养to adopt (a child)Verb4
他们从孤儿院领养了一个女孩。They adopted a girl from an orphanage.
团聚to be reunited; to gather (as a family)Verb4
春节是一家人团聚的日子。Spring Festival is the time when families come together.
过日子to live; to get by (day to day)Verb4
两个人过日子，难免会有矛盾。When two people share a life, some friction is bound to happen.
This list belongs to People and feelings — eleven lists and 442 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.