太婆
taai3 po4
The Cantonese phrase for great grandmother is 太婆 (taai3 po4).
太婆 is used to refer to the mother of one's grandmother. Beyond its role as a kinship title, it can also be used as a respectful way to address an elderly woman in a social context.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 太 (taai3), meaning 'great' or 'too' and 婆 (po4), meaning 'old woman' or 'grandmother'.
Which one should you use?
While 太婆 refers to a great grandmother, 奶奶 (naai5 naai2) is the standard term for a paternal grandmother.
How do you pronounce it?
taai3 po4
Did you know?
- In some Cantonese dialects, 太婆 is used as a term of endearment for a very old woman who is not a relative, acting as a social 'honorary' kinship term.
- The character 婆 is a linguistic root that extends beyond family to describe various female deities in Chinese mythology.
- While 太婆 refers to a great grandmother, the word 太 is also used in the title 太太, which means 'wife' in a formal or respectful sense.
Examples in context
- 我太婆好鍾意食甜品。ngo5 taai3 po4 hou2 zung1 ji3 sik6 tim4 ban2.My great grandmother loves eating desserts.
- 太婆今日喺屋企休息。taai3 po4 gam1 jat6 hai2 uk1 kei2 jau1 sik1.Great grandmother is resting at home today.
- 呢位係我太婆。ni1 wai2 hai6 ngo5 taai3 po4.This is my great grandmother.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at an old family photograph.
- 子健 Tsz Kin嘉欣，呢位係我太婆。gaa1 jan1, ni1 wai2 hai6 ngo5 taai3 po4.Ka Yan, this is my great grandmother.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan佢睇落好後生喎。keoi5 tai2 lok6 hou2 hau6 sang1 wo3.She looks very young.
- 子健 Tsz Kin係呀，呢張相係好耐之前影嘅。hai6 aa3, ni1 zoeng1 soeng1 hai6 hou2 naai6 zi1 cin4 jing2 ge3.Yes, this photo was taken a long time ago.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan子健，你太婆好靚。zi2 gin6, nei5 taai3 po4 hou2 leng3.Zi Kin, your great grandmother is very beautiful.
