In 1978, China introduced its one-child policy, which is still in effect today. In addition to the terrible personal consequences this has had on millions of people's lives, and the questionable effect on demographics (it seems that China will face the same age pyramid problems that developed nations have before actually having fully developed), this seems to completely run against the traditional Chinese idea of a large family, a cultural cornerstone that manifests itself even in the language.

There are for example at least four different words for uncle, depending on if he is on the maternal or the paternal side, and if he is a younger or an older sibling of the parent (Wiktionary also lists father's brother-in-law and mother's brother-in-law, but I am not sure those are really uncles in the first place). The same abundance and specificity goes for aunt words as well. These days however, many people do not even have a single aunt or uncle.