Chinese word

外婆

Pronunciation

Pinyinwài pó

Meaning

  • nounmaternal grandmother

Example

外婆给我织了一件毛衣。wài pó gěi wǒ zhī le yí jiàn máo yī

My maternal grandmother knitted me a sweater.

Illustration for 外婆 (maternal grandmother)

More examples

每逢周末，我会去看望外婆。měi féng zhōu mò wǒ huì qù kàn wàng wài pó

Every weekend, I visit my maternal grandmother.

Core concept

A grandmother who belongs to the mother's side of the family tree.

Common phrases

  • 去外婆家qù wài pó jiā

    go to maternal grandmother's house

  • 看望外婆kàn wàng wài pó

    visit maternal grandmother

  • 给外婆打电话gěi wài pó dǎ diàn huà

    call maternal grandmother

Similar words

外祖母wài zú mǔ: A formal name for the mother's mother, especially in written or official language.
祖母zú mǔ: A broad family term for the mother of either parent.
奶奶nái nǎi: An affectionate everyday term for the father's mother.

Definition in Chinese

称呼母亲一方的祖母，表示母亲那边的年长女性亲属。chēng hū mǔ qīn yì fāng de zú mǔ biǎo shì mǔ qīn nà biān de nián zhǎng nǚ xìng qīn shǔ

Word origin

外婆 (wàipó, "maternal grandmother") combines 外 (wài, "outside") with 婆 (pó, "older woman"); 外 marks the mother's side, and 婆 supplies the older-woman sense.

Usage tips

  • English uses one broad family term for both sides, while Chinese often identifies which parent connects a relative to the family.

Other meanings

  • grandmothernoun

Related words

  • 外婆家wài pó jiāmaternal grandmother's homenoun

Word lists with this word