阿姨

ā yí

CL 位 wèi 个 gè

HSK 2.0 Level 3 HSK 3.0 Level 3 Noun Common

Definitions

1. maternal aunt
2. step-mother
3. childcare worker
4. nursemaid
5. woman of similar age to one's parents (term of address used by child)

Word relationships

Counterparts

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• 叔叔 shū shu 叔叔 shū shu father's younger brother Used by children to address a man of similar age to their parents: father's younger brother

Register variants

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• 伯母 bó mǔ 伯母 bó mǔ wife of father's elder brother More formal term for addressing a woman of similar age to one's parents: wife of father's elder brother

Related words

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• 姑姑 gū gu 姑姑 gū gu paternal aunt Paternal aunt (father's sister): paternal aunt

Usage notes

Cultural notes

Using 阿姨 to address an unfamiliar woman around your parents' age shows politeness and is common in daily interactions.

Example Sentences

1 shown

我 阿姨 在医院工作。

My aunt works at a hospital.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 阿姨

• 三阿姨 三阿姨 sān ā yí: auntie, third eldest of sisters in mother's family
• 二阿姨 二阿姨 èr ā yí: auntie, second eldest of sisters in mother's family
• 大阿姨 大阿姨 dà ā yí: auntie, eldest of sisters in mother's family
• 小阿姨 小阿姨 xiǎo ā yí: auntie, youngest of sisters in mother's family

Child Words of 阿姨

• 姨 姨 yí: mother's sister
• 阿 阿 ā: prefix used before monosyllabic names, kinship terms etc to indicate familiarity
• 阿 阿 ē: (literary) to flatter; to curry favor with