Terms of address
Like all Chinese languages, Teochew has a rich vocabulary for describing family relations. This is an important topic for many heritage speakers, since the extended family and older relatives are likely to be the context in which they are most likely to encounter the language. Titles and forms of polite address, as well as commonly encountered surnames, are also useful to know and described here.
Contents
Titles
Like other Chinese languages, formal or polite titles follow after a person’s surname, e.g. Dang5-tai3(2)tai3 陳太太 “Mrs Tan”. Heritage speakers may be more familiar with kinship terms, as they speak the language primarily at home and with relatives.
Mister, Miss, Madam, etc.
| Definition | IPA | Peng’im | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| “mister” | siŋ³³sẽ³³ | sing1sên1 | 先生 |
| “mrs” | tʰai⁵³tʰai²¹³ | tai3(2)tai3 | 太太 |
| “mrs” | hu¹¹dziŋ³³ | hu6(7)ring1 | 婦人 |
| “mrs” (dated) | siŋ³³sẽ³³nĩẽ⁵⁵ | sing1sên1niên5 | 先生娘 |
| “miss” | sie³⁵tse⁵³ | siê2(6)zê2 | 小姐 |
| “miss” (dated) | kou³³nĩẽ⁵⁵ | gou1niên5 | 姑娘 |
| “ms” | ni³⁵sɯ²¹³ | ni2(6)se3 | 女士 |
Professional titles
| Definition | IPA | Peng’im | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| teacher | lau³⁵sɯ³³ | lao2(6)se1 | 老師 |
| pastor | mok²sɯ³³ | mog8(4)se1 | 牧師 |
| master/craftsman | sai³³pe⁵² | sai1bê2 | 師父 |
| doctor (medical) | ui³³seŋ³³ | ui1sêng1 | 醫生 |
| doctor (medical)* | lau¹¹kuŋ³³ | lao6(7)gung1 | 老君 |
| doctor (TCM), teacher | siŋ³³sẽ³³ | sing1sên1 | 先生 |
| doctor (academic) | pʰak⁵sɯ³⁵ | pag4(8)se6 | 博士 |
| lawyer | luk²sɯ³³ | lug8(4)se1 | 律師 |
| business proprietor, “boss” | tʰau¹¹ke³³ | tao5(7)gê1 | 頭家 |
| prime minister | tsoŋ³⁵li⁵² | zong2(6)li2 | 總理 |
| president | tsoŋ³⁵tʰoŋ⁵² | zong2(6)tong2 | 總統 |
| emperor | uaŋ¹¹ti²¹³ | uang5(7)di3 | 皇帝 |
* regional term used in Singapore and Malaysia
Simulated kinship terms
“Simulated kinship” refers to the use of kinship terms to address strangers or persons who are not one’s actual blood relatives, as a means of conveying familiarity and respect. These terms are not combined with surnames. The original meanings are also given in the table below. Compare the usage of “uncle” and “auntie” in Singapore English and other regional English dialects like Indian English.
| Definition | IPA | Peng’im | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| older man (father’s older brother) | a³³peʔ² | a1bêh4 | 阿伯 |
| older man (father’s younger brother) | a³³tsek² | a1zêg4 | 阿叔 |
| older woman (father’s older brother’s wife) | a³³m⁵³ | a1m2 | 阿姆 |
| older woman (father’s younger brother’s wife) | a³³sim⁵³ | a1sim2 | 阿嬸 |
| man of similar age, or slightly older (older brother) | a³³hĩã³³ | a1hian1 | 阿兄 |
| woman of similar age, or slightly older (older sister) | a³³tse⁵³ | a1zê2 | 阿姐 |
| boy, younger male (younger brother) | a³³ti³⁵ | a1di6 | 阿弟 |
| girl, younger female (younger sister) | a³³mue³⁵ | a1muê6 | 阿妹 |
The terms a1ti6 and a1muê6 may sound condescending, if the speaker is not much older than the person being addressed.
Familial terms
In Chinese families, elder relations are not typically referred to by their personal names, but by their kinship to the speaker. Where the kinship term could refer to more than one person, such as when a parent has several siblings, the term is qualified by stating their birth order, e.g. dua7gou1 大姑 “father’s eldest sister”, san1gu6 三舅 “mother’s third brother” (see Numbers and Counting). Kinship terms can also be reduplicated, e.g. gou1gou1 姑姑 “auntie”, gu6(7)gu6 舅舅 “uncle”, or prefixed with a1 阿, when there is no ambiguity or when addressing the person directly. When personal names or nicknames are combined with kinship terms, the kinship term comes after the name, e.g. Florence gou1gou1 “Aunt Florence”.
Immediate family
| Definition | IPA | Peng’im | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| mother | a³³ma⁵⁵ | a1ma5 | 阿媽 |
| mother* | a³³ai⁵⁵ | a1ai5 | 阿[女+哀] |
| father | a³³pa³³ | a1ba1 | 阿爸 |
| father* | a³³pe³⁵ | a1bê6 | 阿父 |
| grandmother | a³³ma⁵³ | a1ma2 | 阿媽 |
| grandfather | a³³koŋ³³ | a1gong1 | 阿公 |
| mother’s mother* | gua¹¹ma⁵³ | ghua7ma2 | 外媽 |
| mother’s father* | gua¹¹koŋ³³ | ghua7gong1 | 外公 |
| older sister | a³³tse⁵³ | a1zê2 | 阿姐 |
| older brother | a³³hĩã³³ | a1hian1 | 阿兄 |
| younger sister | a³³mue¹¹ | a1muê7 | 阿妹 |
| younger brother | a³³ti³⁵ | a1di6 | 阿弟 |
| wife | bou⁵³ | bhou2 | 𡚸 |
| husband | aŋ³³ | ang1 | 翁 |
* Generally used when speaking about them in the third person; not used when addressing them directly.
Mother’s siblings and their children
| Definition | IPA | Peng’im | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| mother’s sister | a³³i⁵⁵ | a1i5 | 阿姨 |
| mother’s sister’s husband | i¹¹tĩõ³⁵ | i5(7)dion6 | 姨丈 |
| mother’s sister’s daughter (older) | piou³⁵tse⁵³ | biou2(6)zê2 | 表姐 |
| mother’s sister’s daughter (younger) | piou³⁵mue¹¹ | biou2(6)muê7 | 表妹 |
| mother’s sister’s son (older than self) | piou³⁵hĩã³³ | biou2(6)hian1 | 表兄 |
| mother’s sister’s son (younger) | piou³⁵ti³⁵ | biou2(6)di6 | 表弟 |
| mother’s brother | a³³ku³⁵ | a1gu6 | 阿舅 |
| mother’s brother’s wife | a³³kim³⁵ | a1gim6 | 阿妗 |
| mother’s brother’s daughter (older) | piou³³tse⁵³ | biou2(6)zê2 | 表姐 |
| mother’s brother’s daughter (younger) | piou³³mue¹¹ | biou2(6)muê7 | 表妹 |
| mother’s brother’s son (older than self) | piou³³hĩã³³ | biou2(6)hian1 | 表兄 |
| mother’s brother’s son (younger) | piou³³ti³⁵ | biou2(6)di6 | 表弟 |
Father’s siblings and their children
| Definition | IPA | Peng’im | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| father’s sister | a³³kou³³ | a1gou1 | 阿姑 |
| father’s sister’s husband | kou³³tĩõ³⁵ | gou1dion6 | 姑丈 |
| father’s sister’s daughter (older) | piou³⁵tse⁵³ | biou2(6)zê2 | 表姐 |
| father’s sister’s daughter (younger) | piou³⁵mue¹¹ | biou2(6)muê7 | 表妹 |
| father’s sister’s son (older than self) | piou³⁵hĩã³³ | biou2(6)hian1 | 表兄 |
| father’s sister’s son (younger) | piou³⁵ti³⁵ | biou2(6)di6 | 表弟 |
| father’s older brother | a³³peʔ² | a1bêh4 | 阿伯 |
| father’s older brother’s wife | a³³m⁵³ | a1m2 | 阿姆 |
| father’s younger brother | a³³tsek² | a1zêg4 | 阿叔 |
| father’s younger brother’s wife | a³³sim⁵³ | a1sim2 | 阿嬸 |
| father’s brother’s daughter (older) | thaŋ¹¹tse⁵³ | tang5(7)zê2 | 堂姐 |
| father’s brother’s daughter (younger) | thaŋ¹¹mue¹¹ | tang5(7)muê7 | 堂妹 |
| father’s brother’s son (older than self) | thaŋ¹¹hĩã³³ | tang5(7)hian1 | 堂兄 |
| father’s brother’s son (younger) | thaŋ¹¹ti³⁵ | tang5(7)di6 | 堂弟 |
Children, grandchildren, and in-laws
| Definition | IPA | Peng’im | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| daughter | tsau³⁵kĩã⁵³ | zao2(6)gian2 | 走仔 |
| son | tau³³kĩã⁵³ | dao1gian2 | 逗子 |
| child, children | a³³nou⁵⁵ | a1nou5 | 阿奴 |
| daughter-in-law | sim³³pu³⁵ / siŋ³³pu³⁵ | sim1bu6 / sing1bu6 | 新𡜵 |
| son-in-law | kĩã¹¹sai²¹³ | gian2(6)sai3 | 仔婿 |
| son-in-law | a³³nɯŋ⁵⁵ | a1neng5 | 阿郎 |
| brother’s daughter (niece) | tsau³⁵suŋ³³ | zao2(6)sung1 | 走孫 |
| brother’s son (nephew) | tau³³suŋ³³ | dao1sung1 | 逗孫 |
| granddaughter | suŋ³³nɯŋ⁵³ | sung1neng2 | 孫女 |
| grandson | suŋ³³ | sung1 | 孫 |
| daughter’s daughter | gua¹¹suŋ³³nɯŋ⁵³ | ghua7sung1neng2 | 外孫女 |
| daughter’s son | gua¹¹suŋ³³ | ghua7sung1 | 外孫 |
| wife’s mother | tĩẽ³³m⁵³ | diên1m2 | 丈姆 |
| wife’s father | tĩẽ³³naŋ⁵⁵ | diên1nang5 | 丈人 |
| husband’s mother | tã³³ke³³ | dan1gê1 | 担家 |
| husband’s father | tã³³gũã³³ | dan1guan1 | 担管 |
| child’s spouse’s parents | tsʰiŋ³³ke³³ | cing1gê1 | 親家 |
| older sister’s husband | a³³nɯŋ⁵⁵ | a1neng5 | 阿郎 |
| older brother’s wife | a³³so⁵³ | a1so2 | 阿嫂 |
| younger brother’s wife | sie³⁵m⁵³ | siê2(6)m2 | 小姆 |
| husband’s younger brother | sie³⁵nɯŋ³³ | siê2(6)neng1 | 小郎 |
Common surnames
The distribution of surnames is not uniform across different regions of China. The following are the twenty most common surnames in the Teochew region. The first twelve in the list were the surnames represented in the founding committee of the Ngee Ann Kongsi 義安公司, a Teochew regional association, when it was established in Singapore in 1830.
| Character | IPA | Peng’im | Mandarin HPY | Common romanization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 林 | lim⁵⁵ | Lim5 | Lín | Lim |
| 王 | heŋ⁵⁵ | Hêng5 | Wáng | Heng |
| 陳 | taŋ⁵⁵ | Dang5 | Chén | Tan |
| 郭 | kueʔ² | Guêh4 | Guō | Quek, Quay |
| 劉 | lau⁵⁵ | Lau5 | Liú | Lau |
| 蔡 | tsʰua3 | Cua3 | Cài | Chua |
| 吳 | gou⁵⁵ | Ghou5 | Wú | Goh |
| 張 | tĩẽ³³ | Diên1 | Zhāng | Teo |
| 楊 | ĩẽ³³ | Iên1 | Yáng | Yeo |
| 黃 | ŋ⁵⁵ | Ng5 | Húang | Ng |
| 沈 | sim⁵³ | Sim2 | Shěn | Sim |
| 曾 | tsaŋ⁵⁵ | Zang5 | Zēng | Chan |
| 鄭 | tẽ¹¹ | Dên7 | Zhèng | Tay |
| 許 | kʰou⁵³ | Kou2 | Xǔ | Koh |
| 謝 | tsia¹¹ | Zia7 | Xiè | Chia, Seah |
| 莊 | tsɯŋ³³ | Zeng1 | Zhuāng | Chng |
| 方 | puŋ³³ | Bung1 | Fāng | Png |
| 周 | tsiu³³ | Ziu1 | Zhōu | Chew |
| 洪 | aŋ⁵⁵ | Ang5 | Hóng | Ang |
| 余 | ɯ⁵⁵ | E5 | Yú | Eu |
The “common romanization” column shows how these surnames are often rendered in Singapore and Malaysia. However, some of these may be confused for names in other dialects that are romanized with the same spelling:
“Heng”: Hêng5 王 (Teochew) vs. Hêng 邢 (Hokkien). The Teochew pronunciation of 邢 is Hian5.
“Chan”: Zang5 曾 (Teochew) vs. Chàhn 陳 (Cantonese). The Teochew pronunciation of 陳 is Dang5.
The Speak Mandarin Campaign, launched in 1979 by the Singapore government, promoted the use of Mandarin over other Chinese languages in Singapore, to the extent that parents were encouraged to register the names of their children in Mandarin with Hanyu Pinyin romanization. As a result, many children born in the 1980s and 90s have surnames that differ from that of their parents in the romanized form.
Surnames with alternative pronunciations (又讀)
Several Chinese characters have different pronunciations depending on the meaning and context. For example, 車 is pronounced jū in Mandarin when it means “chariot” in classical texts, but is pronounced chē for other uses, and in modern Mandarin. (See also “Literary vs. vernacular pronunciations” under “Pronunciation”.)
This applies to several surnames, which are pronounced one way when part of someone’s name, but in another way when part of a ‘normal’ word. One example is the name of the Singapore Teochew businessman Lien Ying Chow 連瀛洲 (M: Lián Yíngzhōu), pronounced Hian5(7) Iong5(7)ziu1 in Teochew. The character 連 is usually pronounced liang5, but when used as a surname should be pronounced Hian5. (See “Interview with Chua Hong Kee”.) The following list is not exhaustive.
| Character | Surname (IPA) | Surname (Peng’im) | Other (IPA) | Other (Peng’im) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 洪 | aŋ⁵⁵ | Ang5 | hoŋ⁵⁵ | hong5 (lit.) |
| 翁 | eŋ³³ | Êng1 | oŋ³³ (lit), aŋ³³ | ong1 (lit.), ang1 |
| 王 | heŋ⁵⁵ | Hêng5 | uaŋ⁵⁵ | uang5 |
| 連 | hĩã⁵⁵ | Hian5 | liaŋ⁵⁵ | liang5 |
| 葉 | iap8 | Iab8 | hieʔ⁵ | hiêh8 |
| 高 | ko³³ | Go1 | kau³³ | gao1 |
| 胡 | ou5 | Ou5 | hu⁵⁵ | hu5 |
| 費 | pi3 | Bi3 | hui²¹³ | hui3 |
| 孫 | sɯŋ³³ | Seng1 | suŋ³³ | sung1 |
| 張 | tĩẽ³³ | Diên1 | tsiaŋ³³ | ziang1 |
| 陳 | taŋ⁵⁵ | Dang5 | tʰiŋ⁵⁵ | ting5 |
| 曾 | tsaŋ³³ | Zang1 | tseŋ³³ | zêng1 |
| 謝 | tsia7 | Zia7 | sia¹¹ | sia7 |
References and further reading
- Lǐ Yǒngmíng 李永明 (1959), 《潮州方言》, Chapter 4 part 2 (vocabulary for family relations)
- Lǐ Yǒngmíng 李永明 (1959), 《潮州方言》, Chapter 2 part 7 (alternative pronunciations)