外婆
wàipó
The English phrase 'maternal grandmother' is translated into Chinese as 外婆 (wàipó). Wiktionary also lists 外祖母 (wàizǔmǔ).
Meaning: The mother of one's mother (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 外婆 | wàipó |
| 外祖母 | wàizǔmǔ |
These terms are used to refer to the mother of one's mother.
What does it mean word for word?
The character 外 (wài) literally means 'outside'. In Chinese kinship terms, this character is used to denote the maternal side of the family.
Which one should you use?
外婆 is the common, colloquial term used in daily speech and within the family. In contrast, 外祖母 is a formal, technical term used in literature, legal contexts or formal introductions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
姥姥 is a common alternative used specifically in Northern China to mean maternal grandmother.
How do you pronounce it?
wàipó
Did you know?
- Because the maternal side is considered 'outside', traditional Chinese genealogies often focused primarily on the paternal line, meaning the names of maternal grandmothers were frequently omitted from official family records.
- The character 外 in 外婆 translates to 'outside', reflecting an ancient patriarchal tradition where a woman was considered to have moved 'outside' her original family to join her husband's.
- The term 姥姥 employs reduplication, where a single character is doubled, a linguistic pattern in Chinese used to make kinship terms sound more affectionate and intimate.
Examples in context
- 我爱我的外婆。Wǒ ài wǒ de wàipó.I love my maternal grandmother.
- 外婆正在厨房做饭。Wàipó zhèngzài chúfáng zuòfàn.Grandmother is cooking in the kitchen.
- 外婆送给我一个礼物。Wàipó sòng gěi wǒ yīgè lǐwù.My maternal grandmother gave me a gift.
Example conversation
Jia Yi and Jun Jie are talking about family during a phone call.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你外婆身体好吗？Nǐ wàipó shēntǐ hǎo ma?Is your maternal grandmother in good health?
- 俊杰 Junjie她很好，谢谢关心。Tā hěn hǎo, xièxiè guānxīn.She is very well, thank you for asking.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你什么时候去看她？Nǐ shénme shíhòu qù kàn tā?When are you going to visit her?
- 俊杰 Junjie我这个周末去看她。Wǒ zhège zhōumò qù kàn tā.I am going to see her this weekend.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “maternal grandmother” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
