Gender neutral term for family members who are all first born?

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Is there a gender neutral term for people who are first born in a family?



For example, if a mother, father, and older sibling are all the first born to their parents, is there a term that describes all of them?



A quick check translating "first born" to traditional Chinese using google shows 長女 and 長男, as well as 初生的 which I'm not clear about, but if I wanted to say that "other family members are all X's" and use the correct Chinese word for clarity and to avoid any ambiguity, is there a word or simple expression for this category of people within a family? Or even without being within one family?



I'm not sure if this should be asked separately or not, but if there happens to be a word or phrase for the only person in a family who is not first born, that would also be helpful.










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  • This is my first question here, help with tagging appreciated.
    – uhoh
    Sep 19 at 8:14














up vote
5
down vote

favorite












Is there a gender neutral term for people who are first born in a family?



For example, if a mother, father, and older sibling are all the first born to their parents, is there a term that describes all of them?



A quick check translating "first born" to traditional Chinese using google shows 長女 and 長男, as well as 初生的 which I'm not clear about, but if I wanted to say that "other family members are all X's" and use the correct Chinese word for clarity and to avoid any ambiguity, is there a word or simple expression for this category of people within a family? Or even without being within one family?



I'm not sure if this should be asked separately or not, but if there happens to be a word or phrase for the only person in a family who is not first born, that would also be helpful.










share|improve this question























  • This is my first question here, help with tagging appreciated.
    – uhoh
    Sep 19 at 8:14












up vote
5
down vote

favorite









up vote
5
down vote

favorite











Is there a gender neutral term for people who are first born in a family?



For example, if a mother, father, and older sibling are all the first born to their parents, is there a term that describes all of them?



A quick check translating "first born" to traditional Chinese using google shows 長女 and 長男, as well as 初生的 which I'm not clear about, but if I wanted to say that "other family members are all X's" and use the correct Chinese word for clarity and to avoid any ambiguity, is there a word or simple expression for this category of people within a family? Or even without being within one family?



I'm not sure if this should be asked separately or not, but if there happens to be a word or phrase for the only person in a family who is not first born, that would also be helpful.










share|improve this question















Is there a gender neutral term for people who are first born in a family?



For example, if a mother, father, and older sibling are all the first born to their parents, is there a term that describes all of them?



A quick check translating "first born" to traditional Chinese using google shows 長女 and 長男, as well as 初生的 which I'm not clear about, but if I wanted to say that "other family members are all X's" and use the correct Chinese word for clarity and to avoid any ambiguity, is there a word or simple expression for this category of people within a family? Or even without being within one family?



I'm not sure if this should be asked separately or not, but if there happens to be a word or phrase for the only person in a family who is not first born, that would also be helpful.







traditional-chinese family






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edited Sep 19 at 9:28

























asked Sep 19 at 8:13









uhoh

12816




12816











  • This is my first question here, help with tagging appreciated.
    – uhoh
    Sep 19 at 8:14
















  • This is my first question here, help with tagging appreciated.
    – uhoh
    Sep 19 at 8:14















This is my first question here, help with tagging appreciated.
– uhoh
Sep 19 at 8:14




This is my first question here, help with tagging appreciated.
– uhoh
Sep 19 at 8:14










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
6
down vote



accepted










Speaking from personal experience (as a 長孫 on my paternal side):



老大 would be the most common gender-neutral term used within the family. Very common.



長子 can refer to the one oldest child of brothers and sisters, but there is quite a lot of variation in use between families, and can refer to the "eldest son" or the "eldest child". To be clear, I'd often go with "長子長女" as a phrase.



A more neutral circumlocution would be 最大的 which is spans formal and informal, in-family and out-of-family use. It defaults to referring to age (not height / width!), but if you want to be specific, you can use 年紀最大的 with "age" included.



There isn't any two-syllable word for the youngest that my family uses, although 老小 and 老幺 I have now seen on searching the Internet. 最小的 is the usual gender-neutral way of expressing it.






share|improve this answer




















  • yes, after searching around for a while (e.g. 1, 2) 老大 seems to be precisely the word I'm looking for. Thanks!
    – uhoh
    Sep 19 at 9:46


















up vote
3
down vote













there're terms for the "first-born-son" only. traditionally, females are not treated equally in a family.



so, the answer below is not gender neutral.



"嫡長子", "嫡子" or "宗子" - "first-born-son" of wife (the official one, not concubines)



http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000044984



http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000044987



http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000140215



therefore, you might invent the term "嫡長女" as "first-born-daughter" :)



other male siblings in the family, including younger one of the same mother, or any male siblings of concubines, are called "庶子"



http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000133626



have fun :)






share|improve this answer




















  • indeed I will, thanks!
    – uhoh
    Sep 19 at 9:00

















up vote
1
down vote













You could just put: 最大的孩子 or just 大的(孩子). IE:




他们家有三个孩子, 大的都有16岁了



他们家最大的孩子已经16岁了。



他们家最大的已经16岁了。



他们家大的已经有16岁了。



他们家大的孩子都有16岁了。







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    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes








    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    6
    down vote



    accepted










    Speaking from personal experience (as a 長孫 on my paternal side):



    老大 would be the most common gender-neutral term used within the family. Very common.



    長子 can refer to the one oldest child of brothers and sisters, but there is quite a lot of variation in use between families, and can refer to the "eldest son" or the "eldest child". To be clear, I'd often go with "長子長女" as a phrase.



    A more neutral circumlocution would be 最大的 which is spans formal and informal, in-family and out-of-family use. It defaults to referring to age (not height / width!), but if you want to be specific, you can use 年紀最大的 with "age" included.



    There isn't any two-syllable word for the youngest that my family uses, although 老小 and 老幺 I have now seen on searching the Internet. 最小的 is the usual gender-neutral way of expressing it.






    share|improve this answer




















    • yes, after searching around for a while (e.g. 1, 2) 老大 seems to be precisely the word I'm looking for. Thanks!
      – uhoh
      Sep 19 at 9:46















    up vote
    6
    down vote



    accepted










    Speaking from personal experience (as a 長孫 on my paternal side):



    老大 would be the most common gender-neutral term used within the family. Very common.



    長子 can refer to the one oldest child of brothers and sisters, but there is quite a lot of variation in use between families, and can refer to the "eldest son" or the "eldest child". To be clear, I'd often go with "長子長女" as a phrase.



    A more neutral circumlocution would be 最大的 which is spans formal and informal, in-family and out-of-family use. It defaults to referring to age (not height / width!), but if you want to be specific, you can use 年紀最大的 with "age" included.



    There isn't any two-syllable word for the youngest that my family uses, although 老小 and 老幺 I have now seen on searching the Internet. 最小的 is the usual gender-neutral way of expressing it.






    share|improve this answer




















    • yes, after searching around for a while (e.g. 1, 2) 老大 seems to be precisely the word I'm looking for. Thanks!
      – uhoh
      Sep 19 at 9:46













    up vote
    6
    down vote



    accepted







    up vote
    6
    down vote



    accepted






    Speaking from personal experience (as a 長孫 on my paternal side):



    老大 would be the most common gender-neutral term used within the family. Very common.



    長子 can refer to the one oldest child of brothers and sisters, but there is quite a lot of variation in use between families, and can refer to the "eldest son" or the "eldest child". To be clear, I'd often go with "長子長女" as a phrase.



    A more neutral circumlocution would be 最大的 which is spans formal and informal, in-family and out-of-family use. It defaults to referring to age (not height / width!), but if you want to be specific, you can use 年紀最大的 with "age" included.



    There isn't any two-syllable word for the youngest that my family uses, although 老小 and 老幺 I have now seen on searching the Internet. 最小的 is the usual gender-neutral way of expressing it.






    share|improve this answer












    Speaking from personal experience (as a 長孫 on my paternal side):



    老大 would be the most common gender-neutral term used within the family. Very common.



    長子 can refer to the one oldest child of brothers and sisters, but there is quite a lot of variation in use between families, and can refer to the "eldest son" or the "eldest child". To be clear, I'd often go with "長子長女" as a phrase.



    A more neutral circumlocution would be 最大的 which is spans formal and informal, in-family and out-of-family use. It defaults to referring to age (not height / width!), but if you want to be specific, you can use 年紀最大的 with "age" included.



    There isn't any two-syllable word for the youngest that my family uses, although 老小 and 老幺 I have now seen on searching the Internet. 最小的 is the usual gender-neutral way of expressing it.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered Sep 19 at 8:37









    Michaelyus

    2,385611




    2,385611











    • yes, after searching around for a while (e.g. 1, 2) 老大 seems to be precisely the word I'm looking for. Thanks!
      – uhoh
      Sep 19 at 9:46

















    • yes, after searching around for a while (e.g. 1, 2) 老大 seems to be precisely the word I'm looking for. Thanks!
      – uhoh
      Sep 19 at 9:46
















    yes, after searching around for a while (e.g. 1, 2) 老大 seems to be precisely the word I'm looking for. Thanks!
    – uhoh
    Sep 19 at 9:46





    yes, after searching around for a while (e.g. 1, 2) 老大 seems to be precisely the word I'm looking for. Thanks!
    – uhoh
    Sep 19 at 9:46











    up vote
    3
    down vote













    there're terms for the "first-born-son" only. traditionally, females are not treated equally in a family.



    so, the answer below is not gender neutral.



    "嫡長子", "嫡子" or "宗子" - "first-born-son" of wife (the official one, not concubines)



    http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000044984



    http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000044987



    http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000140215



    therefore, you might invent the term "嫡長女" as "first-born-daughter" :)



    other male siblings in the family, including younger one of the same mother, or any male siblings of concubines, are called "庶子"



    http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000133626



    have fun :)






    share|improve this answer




















    • indeed I will, thanks!
      – uhoh
      Sep 19 at 9:00














    up vote
    3
    down vote













    there're terms for the "first-born-son" only. traditionally, females are not treated equally in a family.



    so, the answer below is not gender neutral.



    "嫡長子", "嫡子" or "宗子" - "first-born-son" of wife (the official one, not concubines)



    http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000044984



    http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000044987



    http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000140215



    therefore, you might invent the term "嫡長女" as "first-born-daughter" :)



    other male siblings in the family, including younger one of the same mother, or any male siblings of concubines, are called "庶子"



    http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000133626



    have fun :)






    share|improve this answer




















    • indeed I will, thanks!
      – uhoh
      Sep 19 at 9:00












    up vote
    3
    down vote










    up vote
    3
    down vote









    there're terms for the "first-born-son" only. traditionally, females are not treated equally in a family.



    so, the answer below is not gender neutral.



    "嫡長子", "嫡子" or "宗子" - "first-born-son" of wife (the official one, not concubines)



    http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000044984



    http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000044987



    http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000140215



    therefore, you might invent the term "嫡長女" as "first-born-daughter" :)



    other male siblings in the family, including younger one of the same mother, or any male siblings of concubines, are called "庶子"



    http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000133626



    have fun :)






    share|improve this answer












    there're terms for the "first-born-son" only. traditionally, females are not treated equally in a family.



    so, the answer below is not gender neutral.



    "嫡長子", "嫡子" or "宗子" - "first-born-son" of wife (the official one, not concubines)



    http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000044984



    http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000044987



    http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000140215



    therefore, you might invent the term "嫡長女" as "first-born-daughter" :)



    other male siblings in the family, including younger one of the same mother, or any male siblings of concubines, are called "庶子"



    http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000133626



    have fun :)







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered Sep 19 at 8:39









    水巷孑蠻

    6,5821520




    6,5821520











    • indeed I will, thanks!
      – uhoh
      Sep 19 at 9:00
















    • indeed I will, thanks!
      – uhoh
      Sep 19 at 9:00















    indeed I will, thanks!
    – uhoh
    Sep 19 at 9:00




    indeed I will, thanks!
    – uhoh
    Sep 19 at 9:00










    up vote
    1
    down vote













    You could just put: 最大的孩子 or just 大的(孩子). IE:




    他们家有三个孩子, 大的都有16岁了



    他们家最大的孩子已经16岁了。



    他们家最大的已经16岁了。



    他们家大的已经有16岁了。



    他们家大的孩子都有16岁了。







    share|improve this answer
























      up vote
      1
      down vote













      You could just put: 最大的孩子 or just 大的(孩子). IE:




      他们家有三个孩子, 大的都有16岁了



      他们家最大的孩子已经16岁了。



      他们家最大的已经16岁了。



      他们家大的已经有16岁了。



      他们家大的孩子都有16岁了。







      share|improve this answer






















        up vote
        1
        down vote










        up vote
        1
        down vote









        You could just put: 最大的孩子 or just 大的(孩子). IE:




        他们家有三个孩子, 大的都有16岁了



        他们家最大的孩子已经16岁了。



        他们家最大的已经16岁了。



        他们家大的已经有16岁了。



        他们家大的孩子都有16岁了。







        share|improve this answer












        You could just put: 最大的孩子 or just 大的(孩子). IE:




        他们家有三个孩子, 大的都有16岁了



        他们家最大的孩子已经16岁了。



        他们家最大的已经16岁了。



        他们家大的已经有16岁了。



        他们家大的孩子都有16岁了。








        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Sep 20 at 0:41









        dan

        9,7781315




        9,7781315



























             

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