姥姥

lǎo lao

HSK 2.0 Level 5 HSK 3.0 Level 5 Noun Uncommon

Save to list

Definitions

1. (coll.) mother's mother
2. maternal grandmother

Stop forgetting what you study.
Build recall daily.

Try HanyuGuide's Chinese review system with multiple choice, typed recall, tone-aware practice, and reviews scheduled before memory fades.

Start Free Trial $9.99 / year

Lifetime for $19.99 Try the 30-second demo

Word relationships

Counterparts

1 item

• 奶奶 nǎi nai 奶奶 nǎi nai (informal) grandma (paternal grandmother) 奶奶 is the paternal grandmother, while 姥姥 is the maternal grandmother.: (informal) grandma (paternal grandmother)

Register variants

1 item

• 外婆 wài pó 外婆 wài pó (coll.) mother's mother 外婆 is the formal standard term for maternal grandmother, while 姥姥 is a colloquial northern term.: (coll.) mother's mother

Related words

1 item

• 外公 wài gōng 外公 wài gōng (coll.) mother's father 外公 is the maternal grandfather, counterpart to 姥姥.: (coll.) mother's father

Usage notes

Collocations

姥姥 is primarily used in northern China; southern speakers more commonly use 外婆.

Common mistakes

Do not confuse 姥姥 (maternal grandmother) with 奶奶 (paternal grandmother).

Example Sentences

1 shown

我 姥姥 住在北京。

My maternal grandmother lives in Beijing.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 姥姥

• 刘姥姥进大观园 刘姥姥进大观园 liú lǎo lao jìn dà guān yuán: Granny Liu visits the Grand View gardens
• 姑姥姥 姑姥姥 gū lǎo lao: mother's father's sister (coll.)
• 姨姥姥 姨姥姥 yí lǎo lao: mother's mother's sister

Child Words of 姥姥

• 姥 姥 lǎo: grandma (maternal)
• 姥 姥 mǔ: governess