Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to say “daughter-in-law” in Chinese. Whether you’re learning Mandarin or Cantonese, we’ll explore the formal and informal ways to express this term. While regional variations exist, we’ll focus on the standard terms. Read on for tips, examples, and all the information you need to know!
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Say Daughter-in-law in Chinese
Formal terms are generally used in official or respectful settings. Here are the most common ways to say “daughter-in-law” formally:
1. Mandarin Chinese: 媳妇儿 (Xí Fù Er)
In Mandarin Chinese, the most common formal term for daughter-in-law is “媳妇儿” (Xí Fù Er). It consists of two characters. “媳” (Xí) means “daughter-in-law,” and “妇儿” (Fù Er) means “married woman.” You can use this term when referring to your son’s wife formally.
Example:
“请问，小王的媳妇儿来了吗？” (Qǐngwèn, xiǎo wáng de xífù er láile ma?)
“Excuse me, has Xiao Wang’s daughter-in-law arrived?”
2. Cantonese Chinese: 老婆 (Lou Po)
In Cantonese Chinese, a formal term for daughter-in-law is “老婆” (Lou Po). Though it primarily means “wife,” Cantonese speakers often use it to refer to the daughter-in-law as well. Please note that while it can be used formally, “老婆” (Lou Po) can also be used more informally, as we’ll explore in the next section.
Example:
“请问，小李的老婆来了吗？” (Qíngwén, xiǎo lǐ de lǎopó láile ma?)
“Excuse me, has Xiao Li’s daughter-in-law arrived?”
Informal Ways to Say Daughter-in-law in Chinese
Informal terms are commonly used in casual settings or among family members and friends. Here are some informal ways to say “daughter-in-law” in Chinese:
1. Mandarin Chinese: 儿媳 (Er Xi)
When it comes to informal terms, Mandarin Chinese has the word “儿媳” (Er Xi) for daughter-in-law. The term “儿” (Er) means “child,” and “媳” (Xi) is a shortened form of “媳妇儿” (Xí Fù Er). This phrase is commonly used, especially among relatives or close friends.
Example:
“小张的儿媳怀孕了，我们都很开心。” (Xiǎo zhāng de ér xí huáiyùnle, wǒmen dōu hěn kāixīn.)
“Xiao Zhang’s daughter-in-law is pregnant, and we are all very happy.”
2. Cantonese Chinese: 媳婦 (Sik Fu)
In Cantonese, an informal term for daughter-in-law is “媳婦” (Sik Fu). Similar to the Mandarin term “儿媳” (Er Xi), “媳婦” (Sik Fu) combines the characters “媳” (Sik) meaning “daughter-in-law” and “婦” (Fu) meaning “married woman” or “wife.” It’s commonly used in everyday conversations.
Example:
“我好开心，我儿子找到了一个好媳婦。” (Ngó hóu hōi sām, ngóh zì zóu dóu yat hóu sik fu.)
“I’m so happy. My son has found a good daughter-in-law.”
Summary
Now you have a comprehensive understanding of how to say “daughter-in-law” in Chinese. Remember, in Mandarin Chinese, the formal term is “媳妇儿” (Xí Fù Er), while in Cantonese, you can use “老婆” (Lou Po). For informal situations, Mandarin has “儿媳” (Er Xi), and Cantonese uses “媳婦” (Sik Fu). Use these terms appropriately, depending on the context and your relationship with the person you’re referring to.
We hope this guide has been helpful. Enjoy your journey of learning Chinese, and feel free to explore more linguistic nuances and regional variations as you delve deeper into the language!
