认亲

認親

rènqīn

verb

Meanings

1 to acknowledge someone as a relative
2 to recognize kinship
3 (old) to visit new in-laws after marriage

Characters

to recognize; acknowledge

Examples

HSK 7-9

失散多年后，他终于和亲生父母认亲了。

Shīsàn duōnián hòu, tā zhōngyú hé qīnshēng fùmǔ rènqīn le.

After many years apart, he was finally reunited with his birth parents.

HSK 7-9

按照传统，新娘婚后要回娘家认亲。

Ànzhào chuántǒng, xīnniáng hūnhòu yào huí niángjia rènqīn.

By tradition, the bride visits her own family after the wedding to formally meet the in-laws.

Tips

culture

Modern Chinese news uses 认亲 most often for adoption reunions and DNA-database matches that bring trafficked or lost children back to birth families - highly emotional moments often filmed for state TV.

history

Older meaning relates to 三朝回门 - the bride's return to her parents' home three days after the wedding, where families exchanged formal greetings and acknowledged the new kinship ties.

Stroke Order

认 rèn

亲 qīn