The purpose of this study is to carry out a componential analysis of the basic kinship terms as well as marriage kinship terms in Fujian and to point out significant characteristics in Fujian culture as reflected in the meanings of Fujian kinship terms.The data used in this study was gathered by interviewing informants in four southern provinces of Thailand : Krabi, Trang, Phang-nga and Phuket and also in Penang, Malaysia. The results of the study show that kinship terms in Fujian are differentiated by six dimensions of contrast: generation, lineality, age, parental link, sex and marriage. The result of a comparison of the five Fujian communities’ kinship terms and kinship systems is that there are pairs of similarities and differences. The kinship terms and system of Trang and Phang-nga are similar. So are the basic kinship terms of Phuket and Penang, but these two dialects show differences in the marriage kinship terms. Basic kinship terms show differences in Krabi and Phuket but here the marriage kinship terms are similar. The basic kinship terms of Krabi and the marriage kinship terms of Penang are different from those in the other locations. In all five communities, the analysis shows that seniority and patriarchy are significant cultural characteristics contained in the meaning of the kinship terms. This agrees with the observations contained in the sociological and anthropological researches on Fujian. Concerning patriarchy in Fujian, the Fujian kinship terms indicating patriarchal society and being still present in Penang, have been replaced by Thai kinship terms in the Fujian communities in Thailand. This loss of patriarchy in the Fujian kinship system can be attributed to language contact in Thailand. The characteristic of seniority remains in all four Fujian communities in Thailand. In Penang, both patriarchy and seniority are characteristics of the Fujian kinship system even though the Fujian community in Penang has language contact with Malay.
