As I’m sure you know, China has a law that prohibits families from having more than one child. It has been very interesting to live and teach with this law in places, and also come to notice it’s exemptions. The law has now been in effect for 30 years. Originally, at the end of 30 years the government was going to get rid of it, but they have apparently decided to continue it for at least 10 more years.
“I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters”
This is a common answer that I get (with some variation of the numbers) when I ask students about their siblings. Does this mean they secretly have a multitude of family members? Nope. Chinese people call their cousins and friends their “brothers and sisters”. This makes it pretty difficult to teach family members. Here is a basic convo…
Me: How many brothers or sisters do you have?
Student: I have 3 brothers.
Chinese assistant: *translates that cousins are not your brothers, and neither are friends*
Student: I have 3 brothers.
Chinese assistant: *translates that a brother or sister is someone who came from your mother’s loins (in a way appropriate for kids of course)*
Student: Oh. I have 0 brothers.
See how this can be a little difficult?
Exceptions
Some people are allowed to have more than one child (which usually just means they have two). If a husband and wife are each themselves only children, they may have another child. If you have twins, you can keep both (we have a set of 3 year old twins that come to the school, and every time James, one of the teachers, sees them he says to one “How does it feel to be an insurance policy?!”). If you are rich, you can have another (Yes, China is quite corrupt.. I can write a whole other post about that.) And lastly, if you live out in the country (and not too many people do anymore) you can have more. One of my friends has 3 sisters!! The fact is though, that it is quite expensive to raise a child in China in a way that gives them any hopes for a good future, and most people only make enough to be able to support one child. While we may find it odd and cruel that the government limits their family size, many Chinese people actually are fine with the decision, and some even agree with it.
“I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters”
This is a common answer that I get (with some variation of the numbers) when I ask students about their siblings. Does this mean they secretly have a multitude of family members? Nope. Chinese people call their cousins and friends their “brothers and sisters”. This makes it pretty difficult to teach family members. Here is a basic convo…
Me: How many brothers or sisters do you have?
Student: I have 3 brothers.
Chinese assistant: *translates that cousins are not your brothers, and neither are friends*
Student: I have 3 brothers.
Chinese assistant: *translates that a brother or sister is someone who came from your mother’s loins (in a way appropriate for kids of course)*
Student: Oh. I have 0 brothers.
See how this can be a little difficult?
Exceptions
Some people are allowed to have more than one child (which usually just means they have two). If a husband and wife are each themselves only children, they may have another child. If you have twins, you can keep both (we have a set of 3 year old twins that come to the school, and every time James, one of the teachers, sees them he says to one “How does it feel to be an insurance policy?!”). If you are rich, you can have another (Yes, China is quite corrupt.. I can write a whole other post about that.) And lastly, if you live out in the country (and not too many people do anymore) you can have more. One of my friends has 3 sisters!! The fact is though, that it is quite expensive to raise a child in China in a way that gives them any hopes for a good future, and most people only make enough to be able to support one child. While we may find it odd and cruel that the government limits their family size, many Chinese people actually are fine with the decision, and some even agree with it.
