妈妈
The Chinese word for mom is 妈妈.
妈妈 is the standard way to say 'mom' in daily life.
What does it mean word for word?
The character 妈 is composed of the radical 女 (woman) and the phonetic component 马 (horse).
Which one should you use?
While 妈妈 is the standard way to say 'mom' in daily life, 母亲 is a more formal term used in literature or official contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Using the single syllable 妈 is more informal and clipped than the reduplicated 妈妈. In formal contexts, it is common to use mǔqin to mean "mother" or "female parent".
How does it change in a sentence?
The single character 妈 can be used as a shortened form of 妈妈.
Did you know?
- While 妈妈 is the standard term, some regions use 娘 or 老娘 to refer to a mother. In certain contexts, 老娘 can be used as a defiant first-person pronoun meaning 'this great lady' or 'I'.
- In old Chinese opera and historical dramas, you might hear characters call their mother 额娘 in Manchu-influenced styles. This was the term used in the Qing dynasty imperial court.
- If you call a stranger 妈妈 in many Chinese-speaking regions, it can be seen as extremely jarring or even nonsensical, unlike how 'mom' is sometimes used as a term of endearment for older women in English.
Examples in context
- 这是我的妈妈。This is my mom.This is useful for introducing your 妈妈.Tatoeba #330581 by vermouthmjl, translation #1061529 by ArizonaJim
- 妈妈比爸爸老。Mom is older than Dad.This is useful for comparing the age of 妈妈 and Dad.Tatoeba #8511069 by maxine, translation #482368 by adjusting
- 妈妈在这里吗？Is Mom here?This is useful for asking if 妈妈 is present.Tatoeba #10972063 by xjjAstrus, translation #5973368 by ApioDelPueblo
- 我爱你，妈妈。I love you, mom.
- 请问您的母亲姓什么？May I ask what your mother's last name is?
- 妈，我回来了！Mom, I'm home!
- 宝贝，妈咪爱你哦！Sweetheart, mommy loves you!
- 好久不见，老妈，想你了。Long time no see, mom, I miss you.
- 32 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their weekend plans.
- 雨婷 Yuting你周末要去见妈妈吗？Nǐ zhōumò yào qù jiàn māma ma?Are you going to see your mom this weekend?
- 伟 Wei是的，我要去看妈妈。Shì de, wǒ yào qù kàn māma.Yes, I am going to visit my mom.
- 雨婷 Yuting你妈妈最近身体好吗？Nǐ māma zuìjìn shēntǐ hǎo ma?Is your mom feeling well lately?
- 伟 Wei她很好，谢谢你。Tā hěn hǎo, xièxie nǐ.She is very well, thank you.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
