Traditional Chinese - Family

我的___住在___。

Wǒ de ___ zhù zài ___.

My ___ lives in ___.

Meaning: 我的___住在___ (Wǒ de ___ zhù zài ___) means “My ___ lives in ___.”

When to use: Use it when you want to say where a family member lives. Put the family member in the first blank and the place in the second blank.

我的___今年___歲。

Wǒ de ___ jīnnián ___ suì.

My ___ is ___ years old.

Meaning: 我的___今年___歲 (Wǒ de ___ jīnnián ___ suì) means “My ___ is ___ years old.”

When to use: Use it to give a family member’s age. In Mandarin, 今年 (jīnnián), “this year,” makes age sound natural.

Tip: Don’t add 是 (shì) before the age. Say 我的弟弟今年十五歲 (Wǒ de dìdi jīnnián shíwǔ suì), not 我的弟弟是十五歲 (Wǒ de dìdi shì shíwǔ suì).

我從小跟我的___一起長大。

Wǒ cóng xiǎo gēn wǒ de ___ yìqǐ zhǎng dà.

I grew up with my ___.

Meaning: 我從小跟我的___一起長大 (Wǒ cóng xiǎo gēn wǒ de ___ yìqǐ zhǎng dà) means “I grew up with my ___.”

When to use: Use it to talk about someone who was part of your childhood or household life.

我跟我的___很親。

Wǒ gēn wǒ de ___ hěn qīn.

I am close to my ___.

Meaning: 我跟我的___很親 (Wǒ gēn wǒ de ___ hěn qīn) means “I am close to my ___.”

When to use: Use it to describe emotional closeness with a family member.

我們相處得很好。

Wǒmen xiāngchǔ de hěn hǎo.

We get along well.

Meaning: 我們相處得很好 (Wǒmen xiāngchǔ de hěn hǎo) means “We get along well.”

When to use: Use it for family, friends, classmates, or coworkers when the relationship is positive.

我不太常見到我的___。

Wǒ bù tài cháng jiàn dào wǒ de ___.

I don't see my ___ very often.

Meaning: 我不太常見到我的___ (Wǒ bù tài cháng jiàn dào wǒ de ___) means “I don’t see my ___ very often.”

When to use: Use it when someone is far away, busy, or simply not someone you meet often.

Tip: 不太常 (bù tài cháng) sounds softer and more natural than a very direct 不常 (bù cháng) in many casual conversations.

我爸媽離婚了

Wǒ bà mā líhūn le.

My parents are divorced.

Meaning: 我爸媽離婚了 (Wǒ bà mā líhūn le) means “My parents are divorced.”

When to use: Use it when sharing family background. 爸媽 (bà mā) is the natural spoken word for “parents” in Taiwan.

你爸媽是做什麼的？

Nǐ bà mā shì zuò shénme de?

What do your parents do?

Meaning: 你爸媽是做什麼的？ (Nǐ bà mā shì zuò shénme de?) means “What do your parents do?”

When to use: Use it to ask about someone’s parents’ jobs in casual conversation.

___ 是我的姐夫/妹夫。

___ shì wǒ de jiěfu/mèifu.

___ is my brother-in-law.

Meaning: ___ 是我的姐夫/妹夫 (___ shì wǒ de jiěfu/mèifu) means “___ is my brother-in-law.”

When to use: Use 姐夫 (jiěfu) for your older sister’s husband and 妹夫 (mèifu) for your younger sister’s husband.

Tip: Mandarin usually specifies the exact family connection: 姐夫 (jiěfu) is not the same as 妹夫 (mèifu).