po4 po2婆婆
Definition
One's maternal grandmother, or a polite form of address for an elderly woman.
- maternal grandmother
- a polite address for an elderly woman
How it's used
Refers specifically to the maternal grandmother, though it is also used as a polite and affectionate way to address any elderly woman in public. Using it for an older woman you do not know shows respect and friendliness, similar to how one might use 阿婆, though 婆婆 sounds slightly warmer and less clinical. It is common to hear children use it for their grandmother, while adults might use it for both their own grandmother and as a social honorific.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 阿婆, which can sometimes sound slightly detached or even dismissive depending on the tone. While 婆婆 is almost always warm, 阿婆 can be used to describe an old woman in a way that highlights her age or frailty rather than her relationship to the speaker.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
