Chinese genealogy quick reference glossary

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

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

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

Chinese genealogical word list, Family Search. For a comprehensive list of words in Chinese and pinyin (only – no Cantonese), see this list.