I Love My Family

Set in early 1990s China, I Love My Family follows the messy, warm interactions of a typical urban household as they handle everyday problems, minor crises, and generational clashes. The show centers on patriarch Fu Ming, his practical wife Heping, and relatives like Jia Zhiguo and young Jia Yuanyuan, whose plainspoken humor turns ordinary scenes into sitcom set pieces. Episodes move through family arguments, neighborhood gossip, work frustrations, and small celebrations, balancing humor with quiet drama. The series presents modernizing China through domestic life, highlighting character quirks rather than plot twists. Episodes stayed short and self-contained.

Premiering in 1993, I Love My Family was created by Ying Da, Liang Zuo, and Teng Mingyi. Often credited as the first Mandarin sitcom, it mixed stage-style comedy with television pacing and helped define a new format for mainland TV.

Because it’s widely regarded as the first Mandarin sitcom, the show reshaped Chinese TV comedy, inspiring later sitcoms and everyday humor on screen. Catchphrases and domestic scenes became touchstones for viewers then, and several cast members, notably Song Dandan, grew into major comedy figures in China and across other media.

Critics and audiences praised the series for its honest, everyday writing and strong ensemble performances. With an 8.5 user score, it’s remembered for focusing on family dynamics, social change, and small moral choices, balancing laughs with sincere moments, and enduring domestic warmth.

While it influenced TV comedy across China, there is no widely documented record of major international awards tied to the show. It did attract domestic attention and helped its actors and creators gain recognition in industry circles. It inspired industry honors and retrospectives within China in later years.