wong4 mou5王母
Jyutpingwong4 mou5
Yalewòhng móuh
Definition
The Queen Mother of the West, a female Taoist deity associated with plague and punishment.
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How it's used
People almost always add the suffix 娘娘 when referring to her to show respect, as 王母 alone can sound a bit abrupt or overly formal. While mythology often links her to the Jade Emperor, traditional Taoist texts actually treat them as separate deities with distinct origins. Using the full title 王母娘娘 helps distinguish her from other mythological figures or generic titles.
Examples
I heard the Queen Mother of the West loves eating flat peaches.
Do you know if the Queen Mother of the West and the Jade Emperor are a married couple?
Related words
Common phrases
Queen Mother of the West (honorific)
Common mistake
Learners often assume she is the wife of the Jade Emperor because of popular television dramas, but this is a common folk misconception rather than a strict theological fact in Taoism.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
