外婆

• Pinyin: wài pó
• Hanzi breakdown: 外 = 夕 + 卜; 婆 = 波 (wave, phonetic) + 女 (woman) — an older woman, grandmother

Meaning

Maternal grandmother. The mother of one's mother, addressed and referred to with warmth and affection.

The southern Chinese and standard Mandarin term for maternal grandmother; northern speakers typically say 姥姥 (lǎolao). Like 外公, the 外- prefix signals the maternal line. 外婆 appears frequently in literature, song lyrics, and personal essays as a symbol of warmth, home-cooking, and childhood summers. The Taiwanese pop classic 外婆的澎湖湾 is one of the most recognisable Mandarin songs of all time.

Examples

1. 外婆做的红烧肉是我这辈子吃过最好吃的东西，没有之一。 The red-braised pork my grandmother makes is the best thing I have ever eaten in my life — nothing else even comes close.
2. 小时候我在外婆家长大，对那栋老房子充满了深厚的感情。 I grew up at my grandmother's place as a child, and I have a deep attachment to that old house.
3. 外婆虽然不识字，却把我们几个孙辈都教育得很好，靠的是言传身教。 Even though my grandmother never learned to read, she raised us grandchildren well through her own example and actions.

Usage Guide

Context: family, everyday

Tone: affectionate

Do Say

• 每年春节我们都回外婆家团圆，那是全家最热闹的时候。(Every Lunar New Year we go back to grandma's for the reunion — that's when the whole family is at its liveliest.)
• 外婆年纪大了，腿脚不方便，我们要常打电话问候她。(Grandma is getting older and has trouble getting around; we should call her often to check in.)

Don't Say

• 在北方用外婆时，对方可能不立刻反应过来 — 北方通用的是'姥姥' (In northern Chinese dialects, 外婆 may not be the expected term; use 姥姥 for clarity in northern contexts)

Origin & History

Compound of 外 (outer, maternal side) + 婆 (old woman, grandmother). 婆 carries connotations of an older, motherly woman. Combined with the 外- maternal prefix, it designates the mother's mother.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal