How do you feel about being called "aunty" or "uncle?"

[thebottomsupblog]

My gf gave me the idea to start this topic: She said that once she crossed 40, she had no issues with being addressed as “aunty,” even at the workplace.

Another gf of mine said that she’s fine calling herself that as a joke, but not for someone else to decide that’s her label

I’m fine if my kids’ friends call me “aunty,” but I don’t want to be someone’s “aunty friend!”

[rinsider]

@thebottomsupblog I’m OK with being an auntie as I am one actually in the local context! I would rather be called that than “sis” from YPs (young persons) who are young enough to be my kid!

I guess I’m also in the retail front line too, and when you hear “auntie” multiple times a day, it becomes alright.
I feel I’ve earned my stripes, hahaha!

[thebottomsupblog]

@rinsider I have never addressed anyone in retail as aunty haha.

I probably told you this before (offline) — I had a rather posh classmate in sec school, and when her mom gave us a ride, we addressed her as “aunty” and were coldly told to call her “Mrs X” instead. That memory stuck with me!

[jackieyeo]

I am fine with young children addressing as aunty, but would still prefer sister lol

[Wonder-ful]

@thebottomsupblog - I would prefer older people calling me " big brother " As I don’t address older people ’ uncle or auntie ’ as we maybe older than them. Usually address them as ’ big brother or big sister in Mandarin.

[jackieyeo]

@Wonder-ful agreed!

[thebottomsupblog]

For sure, if someone comes to the door and addresses me as “jie jie,” I’ll look at them with some fondness. But I seldom get “aunty” haha. Even the older women in our family still call me “girl”

[sharonkhoo]

@thebottomsupblog I was brought up to address all older people as aunty/uncle, whether family friends, sales assistants, hawkers etc. The problem was when I grew older and realised with a shock that many I habitually addressed this way were probably about my age, maybe even younger. Now, since I am pretty much always older that anyone I meet, I generally just don’t address them as anything, but just launch straight into my request/question.

As for my own experience, I got used to kids calling me “aunty” when I married into my husband’s family as he is the youngest sibling and I suddenly found myself an aunt! I was first addressed as “da jie” by another adult (a young lady in her 20s) when I was around 40, which gave me quite a shock. I’m now hardened to it. Also, while living overseas, I had a lot of friends from other Asian countries where respectful terms of address are still in use among adults. I found that Koreans almost always need to figure out everyone’s relative age right at the beginning of an acquaintanceship because their language requires them to use the correct honorifics! They don’t use them when speaking English, but they still tended to want to know how old I am.

[HNS2015]

@thebottomsupblog

Same here. I’m fine if my kids’ friends call me “aunty,” but i feel awkward when someone older than me calls me that 🤭 Once at the wet market, I saw a guy (probably mid-30s) queuing in front of me who got upset when the elderly stall auntie called him “uncle.” He even told her not to call him that. When it was my turn, the stall auntie almost called me “auntie” too, then quickly switched to “xiao mei” I guess she didn’t want to risk upsetting another customer!

[sharonkhoo]

@HNS2015 said in How do you feel about being called "aunty" or "uncle?":

@thebottomsupblog

Same here. I’m fine if my kids’ friends call me “aunty,” but i feel awkward when someone older than me calls me that 🤭 Once at the wet market, I saw a guy (probably mid-30s) queuing in front of me who got upset when the elderly stall auntie called him “uncle.” He even told her not to call him that. When it was my turn, the stall auntie almost called me “auntie” too, then quickly switched to “xiao mei” I guess she didn’t want to risk upsetting another customer!

There’s a cultural difference here, I guess. In China (where I lived for several years), it’s quite common to address women of perceived higher status as “ayi” even if they are younger, but reasonably mature. So a 50-yr-old shopkeeper would address a customer as “ayi” even if the customer is about 30-40 yrs old (but probably not if only a 20-yr-old). In more traditional Asian cultures, addressing someone as elder is respectful, not insulting (that’s more western). I found it strange too, but got used to it.