fictive kinship; sworn relative
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
fictive kinship; sworn relative
Refers to a relationship formed by social agreement rather than by blood or marriage, often through a formal ceremony of "认亲" (recognizing kinship). Common examples include godparents or sworn siblings.
Tā他
rèn认
le了
nà那
wèi位
lǎo老
rén人
zuò做
gān干
diē爹
，
cóng从
cǐ此
jié结
chéng成
le了
gān干
qīn亲
。
He recognized that old man as his godfather, thus forming a fictive kinship.
Gān干
qīn亲
guān关
xì系
zài在
Zhōng中
guó国
chuán传
tǒng统
wén文
huà化
zhōng中
bǐ比
jiào较
cháng常
jiàn见
。
Fictive kinship relationships are relatively common in traditional Chinese culture.
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Tā她
bù不
jǐn仅
shì是
wǒ我
de的
hǎo好
péng朋
you友
，
hái还
shì是
wǒ我
de的
gān干
jiě姐
mèi妹
，
shì是
míng名
fù副
qí其
shí实
de的
gān干
qīn亲
。
She is not only my good friend but also my sworn sister, a true fictive relative.
Wǒ我
men们
liǎng两
jiā家
shì是
duō多
nián年
de的
gān干
qīn亲
，
féng逢
nián年
guò过
jié节
dōu都
huì会
hù互
xiāng相
zǒu走
dòng动
。
Our two families have been fictive kin for many years and visit each other during holidays.