保姆

• Pinyin: bǎo mǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 保 = 亻 (person) + 呆 (phonetic); 姆 = 女 (woman) + 母 (mother)

Meaning

Nanny; housekeeper; domestic helper.

A person hired to look after children, do housework, or care for elderly family members. In modern usage, can refer to live-in domestic workers or part-time helpers. The term is neutral and professional.

Examples

1. 双职工家庭请保姆照顾孩子在大城市很普遍。 It's common for dual-income families in big cities to hire nannies to look after their children.
2. 我们给奶奶请了个保姆，专门负责她的日常起居。 We hired a caregiver for grandma to take care of her daily needs.
3. 好保姆难找，她家那位已经跟了十年了。 Good nannies are hard to find — the one her family has had has been with them for ten years.

Usage Guide

Context: family, employment, childcare

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 我们正在找一个靠谱的保姆。(We're looking for a reliable nanny.)
• 保姆每天下午三点来接孩子。(The nanny comes to pick up the kids at 3 PM every day.)

Don't Say

• 当面叫人'保姆'而不是她的名字 (Don't address someone as 保姆 to their face — use their name or 阿姨 as a polite form)

Origin & History

保 (to protect/care for) + 姆 (wet nurse/nanny). A person who cares for others.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal