曾祖父
zēngzǔfù
The English phrase "great grandfather" is translated into Chinese as 曾祖父 (zēngzǔfù).
The term refers specifically to the father of one's grandparent on the paternal side.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 曾祖父 is composed of 曾 (zēng) meaning 'once/successive', 祖 (zǔ) meaning 'ancestor/grandparent' and 父 (fù) meaning 'father'.
Which one should you use?
曾祖父 (zēngzǔfù) refers specifically to the paternal great-grandfather. For a maternal great-grandfather, you would use 外曾祖父 (wài zēngzǔfù).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
曾祖父 is a formal way to refer to a paternal great-grandfather. In spoken Chinese, people more commonly use 太爷爷 (tàiyéye) to address or refer to him. The term 曾祖爷 is an informal and colloquial alternative.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hokkien, 阿公 can be used to refer to a great grandfather.
How do you pronounce it?
zēngzǔfù
Did you know?
- While 曾祖父 is the formal term, the colloquial 太爷爷 (tàiyéye) uses 太 (tài), which literally means 'too' or 'extreme' to signify the furthest reach of the family tree.
- In traditional Chinese culture, the specific term for a paternal great-grandfather reflects the Confucian priority of the paternal lineage over the maternal one.
- Chinese kinship terms are so precise that there are different words for every single relative, meaning you cannot use the same word for two different great-grandfathers.
Examples in context
- 我的曾祖父是一位老师。Wǒ de zēngzǔfù shì yī wèi lǎoshī.My great grandfather was a teacher.
- 曾祖父的生平很传奇。Zēngzǔfù de shēngpíng hěn chuánqí.His great grandfather's life was legendary.
- 这张照片里的人是我的曾祖父。Zhè zhāng zhàopiàn lǐ de rén shì wǒ de zēngzǔfù.The person in this photo is my great grandfather.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at old family photographs.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen这张照片上的老人是谁？Zhè zhāng zhàopiàn shàng de lǎorén shì shéi?Who is the elderly man in this photo?
- 浩然 Haoran他是我的曾祖父。Tā shì wǒ de zēngzǔfù.He is my great grandfather.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen他看起来很精神。Tā kàn qǐlái hěn jīngshén.He looks very spirited.
- 浩然 Haoran是的，他活到了九十岁。Shì de, tā huó dàole jiǔshí suì.Yes, he lived to be ninety years old.
