祖母

• Pinyin: zǔ mǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 祖 = 礻(spirit) + 且 (ancestral tablet); 母 = pictograph of a woman with breasts, meaning mother

Meaning

Paternal grandmother; father's mother.

The formal term for one's father's mother. More formal than colloquial 奶奶. Used in official documents and formal contexts. Specifically refers to paternal grandmother (外祖母 for maternal grandmother).

Examples

1. 祖母虽然已经八十多岁了，但身体依然硬朗，每天还能做家务。 Although my grandmother is over eighty, she's still in good health and can do housework every day.
2. 小时候祖母常常给我讲她年轻时的故事，那些记忆至今难忘。 When I was young, grandmother often told me stories from her youth — those memories are unforgettable.
3. 祖母把她珍藏了几十年的玉镯传给了我，这是无价的传家宝。 Grandmother passed down to me a jade bracelet she treasured for decades — a priceless heirloom.

Usage Guide

Context: family, legal documents, formal speech

Tone: respectful

Do Say

• 我祖母做的菜特别好吃。(My grandmother's cooking is delicious.)
• 这是祖母的遗物。(This is a memento from my grandmother.)

Don't Say

• 祖母，我饿了。(When addressing her directly, use 奶奶, not 祖母)

Origin & History

Compound of 祖 (ancestor) and 母 (mother). A formal term following the traditional kinship naming system.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal