This is a list of common words and terms for Chinese genealogical research. Use CMD+F (Mac) or CTL+F for a PC to quickly search as the list grows.
Family terms
Word (pinyin / jyutping) | Chinese | Description |
---|
Ah | 阿 | A naming convention. See What is the Chinese name Ah? |
mu | 墓 | grave |
nian | 年 | Year. You will see this on grave markers. |
ri | 日 | Day. You will find this on grave markers. |
Shee / Shi / Sze / See | 氏 | Loosely: wife from the family of. For more, see All Chinese wives are called Shee. |
sheng | 生 | Birth. You will find this on grave markers. |
shi shi | 逝世 | pass away (die) |
tai tai | 太太 | (Chief) wife |
yue | 月 | Month. You will find this on grave markers. |
zupu | 族譜 | Family tree, China-style |
Table of family terms
Historic Places
Word (pinyin / jyutping) | Chinese (traditional or simplified) | Description |
---|
Canton / Guangzhou / Kwangchow | 廣州 or 广州 | The city of Guangzhou, Guangdong |
China | 中 | Meaning: Middle Kingdom |
District | 区 | Example: Panyu District 番禺区 |
Enping / Yanping | 恩平 | The “4 counties” of Enping, Kaiping, Taishan, and Xinhui. |
Guangdong / Kwangtung | 廣東 or 广东 | The province of Guangdong |
Hong Kong | 香港 | Meaning: Fragrant Harbour |
Kaiping / Hoiping | 開平 | The “4 counties” of Enping, Kaiping, Taishan, and Xinhui. |
Nanhai | 南海 | The “3 counties” of Nanhai, Panyu, and Shunde. |
Panyu / Punyu | 番禺 | The “3 counties” of Nanhai, Panyu, and Shunde. |
Sam Yup / Sanyi | 南番順 | The “3 counties” of Nanhai, Panyu, and Shunde. |
Sheng | 省 | Province. Example: Guangdong Province 廣東省 |
Shunde / Seon Dak / Shuntak | 顺德 | The “3 counties” of Nanhai, Panyu, and Shunde. |
Sze Yup (J: sei jap) / Siyi | 四邑 | Meaning: The 4 Counties. |
Taishan / Toisan / Hoisan / Sunning | 台山 | The “4 counties” of Enping, Kaiping, Taishan, and Xinhui. |
Xinhui / Sunwei / Sunwui / Kuixiang | 新會 | The “4 counties” of Enping, Kaiping, Taishan, and Xinhui. |
Wuyi (J: Ng Yap) | 五邑 | The “4 counties” of Enping, Kaiping, Taishan, and Xinhui, plus Heshan. |
Table of historic places
Concepts
Word (pinyin / jyutping) | Chinese | Description |
---|
guanxi / gwaan-hai | 關係 | Guanxi is a system of interrelationships, family, connection, community, and power. It’s how things get done. |
Table of select Chinese concepts
Resources
Chinese genealogical word list, Family Search. For a comprehensive list of words in Chinese and pinyin (only – no Cantonese), see this list.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Like this:
Like Loading...