'亲戚' (qīn qi) is a collective noun meaning 'relatives' or 'kin'—people connected by blood or marriage, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws. The first character 亲 (qīn) means 'close,' 'intimate,' or 'blood-related,' while 戚 (qi) originally referred to 'kinsfolk' or 'family members on the maternal side,' and together they reinforce the idea of familial closeness and shared lineage.

This term is used broadly in both formal and informal contexts to refer to extended family as a group—not individuals—and often appears in discussions about family gatherings, obligations, weddings, funerals, or holiday visits. Unlike terms like 家人 (jiārén, 'family members') which usually implies the immediate household, 亲戚 emphasizes wider kinship networks, sometimes including distant or infrequently seen relatives. It carries a neutral-to-positive connotation, though context may shade it toward warmth or, occasionally, social pressure.