奶奶

nǎi nai

CL 位 wèi 个 gè

HSK 2.0 Level 3 HSK 3.0 Level 2 Noun Common

Definitions

1. (informal) grandma (paternal grandmother)
2. (respectful) mistress of the house
3. (coll.) boobies
4. breasts

Word relationships

Counterparts

1 item

• 祖父 zǔ fù 祖父 zǔ fù father's father paired pronouns or complementary learner pairs: 奶奶 (paternal grandmother) ↔ 祖父 (paternal grandfather): father's father

Related words

1 item

• 外婆 wài pó 外婆 wài pó (coll.) mother's mother 外婆 is maternal grandmother, contrasting with paternal 奶奶: (coll.) mother's mother

Usage notes

Common mistakes

奶奶 specifically refers to the paternal grandmother; maternal grandmother is 外婆 (or 姥姥 in northern China).

Cultural notes

In Chinese families, 奶奶 often lives with the paternal side, reflecting traditional patrilineal structure.

Example Sentences

5 shown

奶奶 总是惯着小孙子，他要什么就买什么。

Grandma always spoils the little grandson, buying him whatever he wants.

奶奶 喜欢编织毛衣。

Grandma likes to knit sweaters.

奶奶 在院子里养了很多家禽。

Grandma raises a lot of poultry in the yard.

奶奶 给我一份压岁钱。

Grandma gave me a gift of lucky money.

奶奶 正在织毛衣。

Grandma is knitting a sweater.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 奶奶

• 奶奶的 奶奶的 nǎi nai de: damn it!
• 姑奶奶 姑奶奶 gū nǎi nai: paternal great-aunt (father's father's sister)
• 姨奶奶 姨奶奶 yí nǎi nai: father's mother's sister (coll.)
• 少奶奶 少奶奶 shào nǎi nai: young lady of the house
• 求爷爷告奶奶 求爷爷告奶奶 qiú yé ye gào nǎi nai: lit. to beg grandpa and call on grandma (idiom)
• 老奶奶 老奶奶 lǎo nǎi nai: (coll.) father's father's mother

Child Words of 奶奶

• 奶 奶 nǎi: breast