K,
Yup. So difficult for Chinese society :-(
Don't worry! No family member know this case :D
---
Michael
On Friday, October 16, 2009, khen lim <castanet.xiosnetworks@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I think so, Michael.I have similar problems because turning a Chinese word
> into English can be as problematic as doing it in reverse. The English
> language utilises a single word 'family' but if you want to include
> relatives beyond your siblings and parents, you might want to say, 'greater
> family' as in Greater Melbourne to define a city locus that includes every
> single suburb all the way to its rural boundaries.
>
> As you are obviously aware, the specific extent by which the Chinese go to
> in defining a relative's position to you is almost unprecedented. In
> Cantonese, I know this much:
>
> Ah Por: mom's mother (grandmother)
> Ah Ma: dad's mother (grandmother)
> Ah Koong: mom's father (grandfather)
> Ah Yeh: dad's father (grandfather)
> Tye Yee Ma: mom's elder sister
> Sum Yee: mom's third sister
> Koo Ma: dad's sister
> Piu Chair: cousin sister
> Piu Kor: cousin brother
>
> I also understand that Piu Chair and Pui Kor can also be used to refer to
> someone of our own generation (with respect) but someone older.
>
> In English, it is not so clear cut. Despite my decades of living overseas -
> primarily Australia - the family terminology remains confusing to me. For
> example, 'third cousin removed' has no meaning to me although I'd still love
> to find out how it works. I'm not sure what the word 'removed' means here.
>
> I know I have probably added to your confusion now, Michael! Sorry!!!
>
> My apologies for assuming wrongly that Tracy is your little girl and that
> charming lady in the photo is your wife! No doubt your wife must be just as
> if not more charming! :)
>
> K.
>
>
>
> 2009/10/16 Michael Wong <mialop@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>> As this thread, I made a mistake to use incorrect wording to describe the
>> baby of my family. First, it's my nephew's baby. Originally I wish to said
>> "a new baby in my families (include all families of my brother, my
>> brother-in-law, sister-in-law). In Chinese, there are 2 wordings to
>> identify
>> own family & all families. I am confusing how to describe them separately.
>> Is "relatives" good for description of families other than my own family?
>>
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>>
>> ---
>> Michel
>> --
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>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Khen Lim - Zone-10 LLC, Des Moines, Iowa, USA
>
> "To sin by silence when we should protest makes cowards of people” - Emily
> Cox
> "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them" - Walt
> Disney
> --
> _________________________________________________________________
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>
>
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