奶奶
nǎinai
奶奶 (nǎinai) is the Chinese way to say nana.
奶奶 is an informal term for a grandmother. Children use 奶奶 to address their paternal grandmother directly, and it is also used as a title when talking about her to others.
Which one should you use?
奶奶 refers specifically to a paternal grandmother. To refer to a maternal grandmother, you would use 外婆 (standard) or 姥姥 (common in Northern China). Additionally, 婆婆 may be used to address your husband's mother.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Northern China, 姥姥 is a common way to refer to a maternal grandmother, whereas 外婆 is more common in the South.
How do you pronounce it?
nǎinai
Did you know?
- The specific word for a maternal grandmother, 外婆, literally contains a character meaning 'outside', signifying she belongs to the family 'outside' the paternal line.
- While 奶奶 refers to a paternal grandmother, a person might use the term 奶奶 to address an elderly woman in a shop or on the street even if they are not related.
- The term 奶奶 is a reduplicative word, a common feature in Chinese where doubling a character creates a sense of intimacy or affection.
Examples in context
- 奶奶在厨房里。Nǎinai zài chúfáng lǐ.Grandmother is in the kitchen.
- 我最喜欢我的奶奶。Wǒ zuì xǐhuān wǒ de nǎinai.I love my grandmother the most.
- 奶奶给你做了好吃的。Nǎinai gěi nǐ zuò le hǎochī de.Grandmother made something delicious for you.
Example conversation
Two children are talking about their family photos.
- 俊杰 Junjie这是你的奶奶吗？zhè shì nǐ de nǎinai ma?Is this your grandmother?
- 梓涵 Zihan是的，她是我的奶奶。shì de, tā shì wǒ de nǎinai.Yes, she is my grandma.
- 俊杰 Junjie她看起来很年轻。tā kàn qǐlái hěn niánqīng.She looks very young.
- 梓涵 Zihan谢谢，我也会这样说。xièxiè, wǒ yě huì zhèyàng shuō.Thanks, I would say so too.
