Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 爺爺 / 爷爷 | yéye | |
| 祖父 | zǔfù | |
| 外祖父 | wàizǔfù | |
| 外公 | wàigōng | colloquial |
爺爺 / 爷爷 is used for a paternal grandfather, while 外公 or 外祖父 is used for a maternal grandfather.
What does it mean word for word?
In the terms 外公 and 外祖父, the character 外 literally means "outside", which in Chinese kinship terms denotes the maternal side of the family.
Which one should you use?
爺爺 / 爷爷 specifically refers to the paternal grandfather. 外公 and 外祖父 are used for the maternal grandfather. 祖父 is a formal, written term for grandfather that can refer to either side, though it is more commonly associated with the paternal side in traditional contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
爺爺 / 爷爷 and 外公 are used in informal or colloquial settings. 外公 is specifically noted as a common colloquial term for a maternal grandfather.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 爺爺 / 爷爷 in a sentence, the second syllable is usually pronounced in a neutral tone (yéye) rather than the second tone (yéyé).
How do you pronounce it?
yéye
Did you know?
- Many children in China use the term 爺爺 / 爷爷 as a generic, polite way to address any elderly man in public, even if the man is not actually a grandfather.
- In ancient Chinese texts, the word 祖 in 祖父 didn't just mean grandfather, but could refer to any male ancestor in the direct lineage going back many generations.
- When speaking colloquially, the repetitive nature of 爺爺 (yéye) acts as a reduplication, a common linguistic feature in Mandarin used to create familial terms.
Examples in context
- 他很像他外公。He resembles his grandfather.This sentence is useful for showing how to use 外公.Tatoeba #6092215 by xjjAstrus, translation #300797 by CK
- 我的祖父是警察。My grandfather was a policeman.This sentence is useful for showing how to use 祖父.Tatoeba #6111759 by verdastelo9604, translation #5850035 by CK
- 阿里的祖父是賣茶的。Ali's grandfather is a tea vendor.Tatoeba #13549582 by LeviHighway, translation #12984130 by rul
- Nǐ hǎo, yéye (你好，爷爷)Hello, paternal grandfather
- Héi, yěye (嗨，爷爷)Hi, paternal grandfather
- 30 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandfather” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
