The relations in Chinese are exceedingly complex. Here only the
simplest will be given. To be able to understand the complicated
ramifications will take a long time, and can only be learnt by long
experience.
It must be noted that different words are used when one speaks of his
own relations from what are used when another person is referring to
them. In the latter case more polite language is employed.
Thus the following words for “father” are used: If you yourself are
speaking of your father, you might call him \{Ya}/ (爺), or
\{°Lau-nyang-ka}/ (老娘家), or \Kya-°voo/ (家父), or \{°Voo-tshing}/ (父親),
or \{Kya-nyien}/ (家嚴). Other people would refer to your father if they
were polite as \{Tsung-da°-zung}/ (尊大人) Lit. “The honorable great
man.” \{Kya}/ (家) or \{Ling°-tsung}/ (令尊). Children often call their
father \{Tia-tia}/ (爹爹), or \{Ya-ya}/ (爺爺), or \{Pak-pak}/ (伯伯).
So in regard to mother. If you speak of her you say \{Nyang}/ (娘), or
\{Kya-°moo}/ (家母), or \{°Moo-tshing}/ (母親), or \{Kya-dz}/ (家慈). If
you speak of the mother of another person you may say \{Ling°-daung}/
(令堂).
Brother is different as to whether you refer to an older or a younger
one. An older brother is \{Ak-koo}/ (阿哥). A younger brother is
\{Hyoong-°di}/ (兄弟). Brothers (plural) is \{Di°-hyoong}/ or
\{hyoong-°di}/ (弟兄). A familiar term for a younger brother is
\{°Di-°di}/ (弟弟). An older sister is \{Ah-°tsi}/ (阿姊). A younger
sister is \{Me°-me°}/ (妹妹). \{°Tsi-me°}/ (姊妹) means sister or
sisters.
In referring to a son a father would call him \{Nyi-°ts}/ (兒子) or
\{°Siau-noen}/ (小囝); others would refer to your son by saying
\{Ling°-laung}/ (令郞) or (公郞) \{Koong-laung}/. In speaking of one’s
own daughter you would say \{°Siau-°nyui}/ (小女); others would refer
to her as \{Tshien-kyung}/ (千金) Lit. “A thousand catties of gold,” or
\{Ling°- e°}/ (令嬡).