taai3 naai4 naai2太奶奶

Jyutpingtaai3 naai4 naai2

Yaletaai nàaih náai

Definition

Great-grandmother; specifically, one's father's paternal grandmother.

neutralfamilypeople

How it's used

Refers specifically to the paternal great-grandmother, distinguishing her from the maternal side. It carries a sense of respect and distance, as she represents the oldest living generation in many traditional families. In casual speech, people might sometimes use more generic terms for elders, but this remains the precise kinship title.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

ngo5我ting1聽jat6日wui2會heoi3去taam3探ngo5我taai3太naai4奶naai2奶。

I will go visit my great-grandmother tomorrow.

nei5你taai3太naai4奶naai2奶gam1今nin4年gei2幾do1多seoi3歲aa4呀？

How old is your great-grandmother this year?

Common phrases

taam3探taai3太naai4奶naai2奶

visit great-grandmother

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with 太婆, which is a more common, colloquial term for the same relative. Using 太奶奶 can sound slightly more formal or northern-influenced compared to the everyday Cantonese 太婆.