亲戚

• Pinyin: qīn qi
• Hanzi breakdown: 亲 = 立 + 木 + 见 (intimate/close); 戚 = 戊 + 丁 (relative; also grief)

Meaning

Relatives; extended family members related by blood or marriage.

Refers to extended family beyond the immediate household — aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws. Chinese culture places great importance on maintaining ties with 亲戚, especially during festivals when visiting relatives is considered obligatory.

Examples

1. 春节期间，他奔走于好几家亲戚之间，累得精疲力竭。 During the Spring Festival, he went from one relative’s home to another and ended up completely exhausted.
2. 她在外地工作多年，很少有机会回家走亲戚。 She has worked away from home for years and rarely has the chance to visit relatives back home.
3. 这位远道而来的亲戚是他母亲的表妹，平日联系不多。 This relative who came from far away is his mother’s cousin, and they don’t keep in touch much.

Usage Guide

Context: family, social, festivals

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 过年走亲戚是中国传统习俗，承载着浓厚的人情温暖。(Visiting relatives during the New Year is a Chinese tradition that embodies warmth and human connection.)
• 她家亲戚众多，逢年过节总是热热闹闹、人声鼎沸。(She has many relatives, so the family home is always lively and bustling during festivals.)

Don't Say

• 我的亲戚是我爸爸 — use 父亲 for immediate family; 亲戚 refers to extended relatives, not parents or siblings

Origin & History

亲 (close/intimate) + 戚 (relative by marriage; also carries a sense of concern) — those closely related

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal