How to Say “Extended family” in Chinese
Relationships and family · HSK 3
"Extended family" in Chinese is 大家庭 (dà jiā tíng). 大家庭 literally means 'big family' and refers to the extended family; grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, all living together or closely connected. In Chinese culture, especially in the countryside or among older generations, the 大家庭 ideal carries real weight; Chinese New Year is when the whole 大家庭 gathers.
Primary translation
大家庭
dà jiā tíng
When to use it
大家庭 literally means 'big family' and refers to the extended family; grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, all living together or closely connected. In Chinese culture, especially in the countryside or among older generations, the 大家庭 ideal carries real weight; Chinese New Year is when the whole 大家庭 gathers. Don't confuse it with 大的家庭 (a large-sized family). You can also say 整个家族 (zhěng gè jiā zú) for the whole clan, where 家族 emphasizes bloodline over household.
Example sentences
我们是一个大家庭，过年的时候都会聚在一起。
Wǒ men shì yí gè dà jiā tíng, guò nián de shí hou dōu huì jù zài yì qǐ.
We're an extended family; we all get together for Chinese New Year.
他从小在大家庭里长大，习惯了热闹。
Tā cóng xiǎo zài dà jiā tíng lǐ zhǎng dà, xí guàn le rè nao.
He grew up in an extended family, so he's used to it being lively.
我们家族有一百多人，是真正的大家庭。
Wǒ men jiā zú yǒu yì bǎi duō rén, shì zhēn zhèng de dà jiā tíng.
Our clan has over a hundred people; a real extended family.