maa1 maa1媽媽妈妈

Jyutpingmaa1 maa1

Yalemā mā

名詞Very common

Definition

Mother, whether biological, adoptive, or a stepmother.

maa1媽maa1媽zyu2煮zo2咗faan6飯。

maa1妈maa1妈zyu2煮zo2咗faan6饭。

Mom cooked dinner.

colloquialfamilypeople

How it's used

While 媽媽 is the standard term for mother, children often use 阿媽 in casual conversation to refer to their own mother. Using 媽媽 sounds slightly more formal or affectionate, and it is the term used when speaking to someone else about their mother. Avoid using 母親 unless you are writing in a formal context, as it sounds distant and unnatural in daily speech.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

nei5你maa4媽maa1媽gam1今jat6日jau5有mou5冇heoi3去jam2飲caa4茶aa4呀？

Did your mother go for dim sum today?

ngo5我maa4媽maa1媽zyu2煮ge3嘅faan6飯hai6係cyun4全sai3世gaai3界zeoi3最hou2好sik6食。

The food my mother cooks is the best in the world.

Common phrases

mei6未fan1婚maa1媽maa1媽

unmarried mother

daan1單can1親maa4媽maa1媽

single mother

Common mistake

Learners sometimes use 母親 in casual conversation, which can make them sound like they are reading from a textbook or giving a formal speech. Reserve 母親 for written documents or very formal introductions.