maa4 maa4嫲嫲

Jyutpingmaa4 maa4

Yalemàh màh

名詞

Definition

Paternal grandmother; father's mother.

colloquialfamilypeople

How it's used

Refers specifically to the paternal grandmother. It is common to use the reduplicated form as a term of address, while referring to her in the third person often involves adding a possessive particle like 我嫲嫲. In some families, especially those with roots in other regions, you might hear different terms, but this is the standard term for the father's mother in Hong Kong.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

ngo5我ting1聽jat6日wui2會heoi3去taam3探maa4嫲maa4嫲。

I will go visit my grandmother tomorrow.

nei5你maa4嫲maa4嫲san1身tai2體hou2好m4唔hou2好aa4呀？

Is your grandmother in good health?

Common phrases

taam3探maa4嫲maa4嫲

visit grandmother

ngo5我maa4嫲maa4嫲

my grandmother

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 婆婆, which refers exclusively to the maternal grandmother. Using the wrong term can be seen as a sign of not knowing family relations.