孫女 / 孙女
sūnnǚ
The English word "granddaughter" is translated into Chinese as 孫女 / 孙女 (sūnnǚ). Wiktionary also lists 外孫女 / 外孙女 (wàisūnnǚ).
Meaning: daughter of someone’s child (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 孫女 / 孙女 | sūnnǚ |
| 外孫女 / 外孙女 | wàisūnnǚ |
It is standard to distinguish between paternal and maternal relations within kinship terminology.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 外孫女 / 外孙女 includes the prefix 外 (wài), which means "outside". In Chinese kinship terms, this prefix is used to denote relations through the maternal side of the family.
Which one should you use?
孫女 / 孙女 (sūnnǚ) refers specifically to a son's daughter (paternal granddaughter).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain areas, particularly in the southwestern parts of China, the term 娃儿 is used as an informal way to refer to a child or grandchild.
How do you pronounce it?
sūnnǚ
When do people say it?
Distinguishing between paternal and maternal grandchildren is a standard part of Chinese kinship terminology and culture.
Did you know?
- In some dialects and informal settings, a grandfather might refer to his granddaughter using only the word 丫頭 / 丫头, which means 'little girl' or 'wench', though it is used affectionately.
- While 孫女 means 'granddaughter', the character 孫 (sūn) originally depicted a child and a hand, symbolizing the continuation of the family line across generations.
- In traditional Chinese culture, the distinction between 孫女 and 外孫女 historically reflected the belief that a daughter joined her husband's family, making her children 'outside' the birth family's lineage.
Examples in context
- 我有一个孙女。I have a granddaughter.
- 快来，孙女儿，让我看看你的新裙子！Come here, granddaughter, let me see your new dress!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “granddaughter” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
