‘表姑’ (biǎo gū) is a kinship term referring specifically to the paternal aunt of one’s paternal cousin — that is, the sister of one’s father’s cousin. The character ‘表’ (biǎo) indicates a collateral or ‘distant’ blood relationship through marriage or non-direct lineage (as opposed to ‘亲’, qīn), while ‘姑’ (gū) means ‘aunt’ — specifically a father’s sister. Together, ‘表姑’ denotes a more distant female relative on the father’s side, not part of the immediate nuclear family but still recognized in formal Chinese kinship systems.

This term is used mainly in traditional or extended-family contexts, especially when introducing relatives, writing family trees, or discussing genealogy. It reflects the precision and hierarchy embedded in Chinese familial terminology — where relationships are distinguished by generation, gender, lineage (paternal vs. maternal), and closeness. Though less commonly used in casual daily speech among urban youth, it remains essential for understanding family narratives, ancestral records, and formal introductions at weddings or reunions.