姥姥

• Pinyin: lǎo lao
• Hanzi breakdown: 姥 = 女 (woman) + 老 (old/elderly); reduplication softens and warms the register

Meaning

Maternal grandmother. The mother of one's mother.

Used primarily in northern China (especially northeastern dialect and Beijing speech) for maternal grandmother. Southern and standard Chinese more commonly use 外婆. A warm, affectionate term used in everyday family contexts.

Examples

1. 每个暑假，她都会去姥姥家住上整整一个月。 Every summer vacation, she would stay at her maternal grandmother’s house for a full month.
2. 姥姥亲手包的饺子，是我记忆中最难忘的味道。 My maternal grandmother’s homemade dumplings are the most unforgettable taste in my memory.
3. 他从小和姥姥一起长大，对她感情极为深厚。 He was raised by his maternal grandmother and feels an especially deep bond with her.

Usage Guide

Context: family, daily life

Tone: warm, affectionate

Do Say

• 我姥姥今年八十岁了，身体还很硬朗。(My maternal grandmother is eighty years old this year and still very healthy.)
• 姥姥在厨房忙着给我们做饭。(Grandma is busy cooking for us in the kitchen.)

Don't Say

• 用姥姥指代父方祖母 — 姥姥专指母亲的母亲，父方祖母应称'奶奶'

Origin & History

姥 (dialectal: elderly woman/maternal grandmother) — reduplication for affectionate register

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal