我妈妈
wǒ māma
The Chinese phrase for "my mother" is 我妈妈 (wǒ māma).
我妈妈 is used to refer to the female parent of the person speaking.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 我 (I/me) and 妈妈 (mother).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
母亲 is a more formal and respectful way to say "mother" than 妈妈. In casual speech, the second syllable of 妈妈 is often dropped to form 我妈.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the possessive particle 的 between 我 and 妈妈 makes the phrase more grammatically explicit, though it is often omitted in natural speech. For casual use, you may also use the shortened form 我妈.
How do you pronounce it?
wǒ māma
Did you know?
- The character for 'mother' 母 is a pictograph that originally depicted a woman with breasts, emphasizing the nurturing role of the parent.
- In some Chinese cultures, calling your mother by her name or a casual nickname is much less common than in English-speaking households, as titles are used to show social hierarchy.
- While 妈妈 is the standard term, some families use the term 娘 (niáng) in traditional or rural contexts, which carries a more ancient, folk-like connotation.
Examples in context
- 我妈妈是律师。My mother is a lawyer.This sentence is useful for identifying a profession.Tatoeba #5099419 by musclegirlxyp, translation #1771641 by Zaphod
- 我妈妈眼含着泪看我。My mother looked at me with tears in her eyes.This sentence is useful for describing an emotional expression.Tatoeba #5739305 by verdastelo9604, translation #852892 by piksea
- 我妈妈小心翼翼地打开门。My mother opened the door very carefully.This sentence is useful for describing a cautious action.Tatoeba #4859714 by musclegirlxyp, translation #4872152 by zvzuibqx
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their families over coffee.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你妈妈最近怎么样？Nǐ māma zuìjìn zěnmeyàng?How is your mother doing lately?
- 浩然 Haoran我妈妈很好，谢谢。Wǒ māma hěn hǎo, xièxiè.My mother is very well, thank you.
- 佳怡 Jiayi她住在哪里？Tā zhù zài nǎlǐ?Where does she live?
- 浩然 Haoran我妈妈住在上海。Wǒ māma zhù zài Shànghǎi.My mother lives in Shanghai.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
