母女

• Pinyin: mǔ nǚ
• Hanzi breakdown: 母 = mother; 女 = woman/daughter. The mother-daughter pair.

Meaning

Mother and daughter; the relationship between a mother and her daughter.

Refers to the mother-daughter pair or their relationship. Used to describe both people together or their bond. Similar patterns: 父子 (father and son), 父女 (father and daughter), 母子 (mother and son).

Examples

1. 她们母女俩长得特别像，站在一起就像姐妹。 The two of them, mother and daughter, look so alike — standing together they're like sisters.
2. 多年的隔阂终于解开，母女二人抱头痛哭。 Years of estrangement finally resolved, the mother and daughter embraced and cried.
3. 这对母女一起经营着一家小小的花店。 This mother-daughter pair run a small flower shop together.

Usage Guide

Context: family, relationships

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 母女情深。(The bond between mother and daughter is deep.)
• 她们母女关系很好。(They have a good mother-daughter relationship.)

Don't Say

• 用母女形容非亲生关系 (母女 implies biological or adoptive relationship)

Origin & History

Compound of 母 (mother) + 女 (daughter/female). Mother and daughter as a pair.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal