岳母

• Pinyin: yuè mǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 岳 = 山 + 丘 (high mountain; honorific for in-laws); 母 = 女 with two dots (mother)

Meaning

Mother-in-law (wife's mother). The mother of one's spouse, specifically the wife's mother.

Used for the wife's mother only. The husband's mother is called 婆婆. In formal or written contexts 岳母 is standard; colloquially 丈母娘 is also common.

Examples

1. 岳母亲自下厨为他们准备了一桌丰盛的年夜饭。 Her mother-in-law cooked a lavish New Year's Eve dinner for them herself.
2. 她的岳母性格开朗，与儿媳妇相处融洽。 Her mother-in-law has an outgoing personality and gets along well with her daughter-in-law.
3. 他每逢节假日都会带礼物去探望岳母。 Every holiday, he brings gifts to visit his mother-in-law.

Usage Guide

Context: family, social

Tone: respectful

Do Say

• 他对岳母十分孝顺，逢年过节都不忘问候。(He is very filial to his mother-in-law and never forgets to greet her on holidays.)
• 岳母对他们的婚姻生活给予了很多支持。(His mother-in-law gave them a great deal of support in their married life.)

Don't Say

• 丈母娘 in formal writing — use 岳母 in written or formal contexts

Origin & History

岳 (honorific for in-laws) + 母 (mother)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal