Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 奶奶 | nǎinai | |
| 祖母 | zǔmǔ | |
| 外祖母 | wàizǔmǔ | |
| 外婆 | wàipó | colloquial |
| 姥姥 | lǎolao |
This noun refers to the mother of someone's parent. In many Chinese households, 奶奶 is used as a direct form of address for the paternal grandmother, not just as a noun to describe her.
What does it mean word for word?
In the terms 外祖母 and 外婆, the character 外 literally means 'outside', which is used to denote the maternal side of the family in Chinese kinship terms.
Which one should you use?
奶奶 refers specifically to the father's mother. 外婆 refers specifically to the mother's mother. 姥姥 is a colloquial term for the maternal grandmother. 祖母 is a formal, written term for grandmother that does not specify paternal or maternal lineage, though it is most commonly associated with the paternal side.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
祖母 is a formal, written term. 外婆 and 姥姥 are both colloquial.
Is it said differently in some regions?
姥姥 is a colloquial term for the maternal grandmother used primarily in Northern China. 阿婆 is an informal term used in Southern China, particularly in Cantonese-speaking regions. 阿嬤 is an affectionate and informal term for grandmother commonly used in Taiwanese Mandarin. The term 婆婆 is often used in mainland China to address one's paternal grandmother informally.
How do you pronounce it?
nǎinai
Did you know?
- In some regions, the term 奶奶 is used to address any elderly woman with respect, even if she is not a blood relative.
- While 外 means 'outside' in 外婆, it reflects a historical Confucian view that the maternal family belongs to a different clan than the paternal one.
- In traditional Chinese culture, a child's relationship with their 奶奶 was historically seen as more central to their identity and lineage than their relationship with their 外婆.
Examples in context
- 我祖母很老了。My grandmother is very old.This sentence is useful for describing the age of a 祖母.Tatoeba #9969255 by GlossaMatik, translation #3289539 by pne
- 我奶奶失去了記憶。My grandmother lost her memory.This sentence is useful for describing a memory loss involving a 奶奶.Tatoeba #5414804 by egg0073, translation #5573352 by n1ls
- 我祖母是個園藝巧手。My grandmother has a green thumb.This sentence is useful for describing a green thumb belonging to a 祖母.Tatoeba #1233782 by tsayng, translation #1176493 by paula_guisard
- 我奶奶对我非常好。My grandmother is very kind to me.
- 奶奶，您身体还好吗?Grandmother, are you feeling well?
- 婆婆，我爱您！Grandma, I love you!
- 35 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their weekend plans.
- 伟 Wei你週末要去哪裡？nǐ zhōumò yào qù nǎlǐ?Where are you going this weekend?
- 雨婷 Yuting我要去奶奶家。wǒ yào qù nǎinai jiā.I am going to my grandmother's house.
- 伟 Wei妳奶奶身體好嗎？nǐ nǎinai shēntǐ hǎo ma?Is your grandmother's health good?
- 雨婷 Yuting她現在很好。tā xiànzài hěn hǎo.She is doing very well now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandmother” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
