你妈
nǐ mā
In Chinese, the phrase "your mom" is expressed as 你妈 (nǐ mā).
While the phrase can literally refer to someone's mother, it is frequently used as a general-purpose, aggressive or dismissive insult. In internet slang, it often serves as a retort to shut down an opponent during an argument.
Meaning: a general-purpose insult (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 你 (nǐ), meaning 'you' and 妈 (mā), meaning 'mom'.
Which one should you use?
In many online or heated contexts, 你妈 functions as a standalone, highly offensive insult similar to how "your mom" is used in English, rather than a literal inquiry about a parent.
How does it change in a sentence?
By adding the possessive particle 的 to the end, you create 你妈的. This is a very common way to use the phrase as a general swear word or as an exclamation of frustration, roughly translating to "your mom's" or "damn your mom".
How do you pronounce it?
nǐ mā
Did you know?
- In online gaming and forums, users often replace the character 妈 with the number 8 to bypass automatic censorship filters.
- The phrase is part of a wider cultural taboo where insults targeting ancestors or parents are considered far more severe than those targeting the individual.
- There is a distinct social difference between using 你妈 in a heated argument and using it as 'banter' among very close male friends, where it can signify intimacy.
Examples in context
- 你妈妈呢？Where's your mom?This sentence shows how to use the form in a question about someone's mother.Tatoeba #10966817 by xjjAstrus, translation #2254687 by CK
- 你妈会开车吗？Does your mom know how to drive?This sentence shows the form used in a question about a mother's driving ability.Tatoeba #349293 by zhouj1955, translation #10851976 by Luornu
- “你很丑。”“你妈妈很丑。”“你妈妈的脸很丑。”"You're ugly." "Your mom is ugly." "Your mom's face is ugly."This sentence demonstrates a sequence of escalating insults using the form.Tatoeba #3783456 by Debbie_Linder, translation #3781373 by Ooneykcall
- Nǐ de māma shì yí gè wèidà de nǚ rén. (你的妈妈是一个伟大的女人。)Your mom is a great woman.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are arguing over a video game.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你太菜了！Nǐ tài cài le!You are so bad at this!
- 浩然 Haoran你妈！Nǐ mā!Your mom!
- 佳怡 Jiayi别骂人了。Bié mà rén le.Stop insulting me.
- 浩然 Haoran我不骂，我只是在说话。Wǒ bù mà, wǒ zhǐshì zài shuōhuà.I'm not insulting, I'm just talking.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
