Family
Family members and relationships
Family comes up in almost every first conversation, so this unit gives you the words to talk about yours with confidence. You will learn to name parents and siblings, move on to grandparents, aunts, and uncles, then put it all together to introduce the people closest to you.
By the end you can say who someone is and describe your household naturally. It is one of the most practical places to learn Cantonese early, because the vocabulary keeps paying off long after the lesson ends.
- 1Immediate FamilyParents and siblings
- 2
Extended familyGrandparents, aunts, and uncles - 3
My FamilyTalking about your family - 4
IntroductionsIntroducing family members 
Saying who someone isGrammar- Saying what belongs to whomGrammar
Test your knowledgeQuiz
Frequently asked questions
How do you say family in Cantonese?
A common everyday word for family is 屋企人 (uk1 kei2 jan4), which literally means “house people.” This unit teaches it alongside the words for each individual relative.
Why does Cantonese have so many words for relatives?
Cantonese distinguishes relatives by side of the family and by age, so your father's mother (嫲嫲, maa4 maa4) and your mother's mother (婆婆, po4 po4) use different words. The unit walks through each one so the system makes sense.
How do I introduce a family member in Cantonese?
You can point and use 呢個係 (ni1 go3 hai6), meaning “this is,” followed by the person. The introductions and grammar lessons show you how to build the full sentence.
Is this Cantonese family unit free?
Yes. Every lesson in this unit is free to read online, with audio for each word so you can hear how relatives are addressed. In the YumCha app, your first lesson is free to try, vocabulary practice and the dictionary stay free, and a subscription unlocks the full lesson path.