远房亲戚

遠房親戚

yuǎnfáng qīnqi

noun #36,459

Measure Word

一个远房亲戚 gè

Meanings

1 distant relative
2 extended family member (not in the immediate household line)

Characters

branch (of a family) / room

Examples

HSK 1

他是我的一个远房亲戚。

Tā shì wǒ de yí ge yuǎnfáng qīnqi.

He's a distant relative of mine.

HSK 5

婚礼上来了好多远房亲戚。

Hūnlǐ shàng lái le hǎoduō yuǎnfáng qīnqi.

Many distant relatives came to the wedding.

Tips

culture

远房 literally 'distant branch', refers to relatives from a side branch of the family tree (a great-uncle's grandchildren, a third cousin once removed). Opposite is 近房 (jìnfáng) or 直系 (zhíxì, direct lineage). Reflects the traditional Chinese 房 system, in which each son's descendants form a 'branch' (房) of the lineage.

Stroke Order

远 yuǎn

房 fáng

亲 qīn

戚 qī