1 · 40 words

People and family

The family, older and younger, and the first words for people.

English has one word for a brother; Chinese has two, and always says which: 哥哥(gēge) is older, 弟弟(dìdi) younger. Grandparents are split the same way by side of the family. Before a family word 的(de) is usually dropped — 我(wǒ)妈妈(māma), “my mum” — and words like 叔叔(shūshu) and 阿姨(āyí) are used for any adult a child meets, not only for relatives.

The words

Verb (1)

姓(xìng)to be surnamed; surnameVerb1

他(tā)姓(xìng)李(Lǐ)，不(bú)姓(xìng)王(Wáng)。His surname is Li, not Wang.

The surname comes first in a Chinese name: in 王(Wáng)明(Míng), Wang is the surname.

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.