māma
everyday
In pinyin "mom" is māma (妈妈). The formal word for "mother" is mǔqin (母亲).
Meaning: mom, mother (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Note |
|---|---|
| māma | everyday |
| mǔqin | formal |
Children and adults say māma to their mother. A short mā (妈) is also common in direct address, as in Mā, nǐ zài ma?
How do you pronounce it?
The second syllable of māma is neutral and short, so the stress falls on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- Mother's Day is Mǔqinjié (母亲节), built from the formal word mǔqin.
Examples in context
- Wǒ māma zài chúfáng.My mom is in the kitchen.
- Mǔqinjié kuàilè!Happy Mother's Day!
Example conversation
Xiao Fei comes home from school and speaks to her mother (Māma) in Hangzhou.
- Xiao FeiMāma, wǒ huílái le.Mom, I am home.
- MāmaHuílái le? Qù xǐ shǒu.You are back? Go wash your hands.
- Xiao FeiHǎo de.Okay.
