How to Say Grandmother in Chinese
奶奶
nǎinai
In everyday Mandarin, 奶奶 (nǎinai) means your father’s mother, while 外婆 (wàipó) means your mother’s mother.
Pronunciation and tones
In 奶奶 (nǎinai), the first syllable has a third tone and the second is a light neutral tone. Keep the second nai shorter; do not give both syllables a full dipping tone. 外婆 (wàipó) starts with a falling fourth tone on wài, followed by a rising second tone on pó. In the formal word 祖母 (zǔmǔ), both syllables are written with third-tone marks. When spoken together, the first is normally pronounced with a rising tone because it comes before another third tone.
Four everyday examples
我奶奶住在北京。
Wǒ nǎinai zhù zài Běijīng.
My paternal grandmother lives in Beijing.
周末我去看外婆。
Zhōumò wǒ qù kàn wàipó.
I visit my maternal grandmother at the weekend.
奶奶，这是给您的。
Nǎinai, zhè shì gěi nín de.
Grandma, this is for you.
我的祖母是一位老师。
Wǒ de zǔmǔ shì yí wèi lǎoshī.
My paternal grandmother is a teacher.
Usage and common mistakes
Choose the correct side of the family
English grandmother can refer to either parent’s mother, so translating it without knowing the relationship can point to the wrong person. In the usual Mandarin distinction, 奶奶 is your father’s mother and 外婆 is your mother’s mother. These are family relationships, not different levels of affection. For a maternal grandmother, you may also hear 姥姥 (lǎolao), especially in northern China. Local and family naming habits vary, so follow the name a family actually uses when addressing someone. When describing your own family to a new listener, the paternal or maternal distinction makes the relationship clear.
Match everyday and formal words to the situation
奶奶 is natural when talking to your paternal grandmother or mentioning her in conversation. 祖母 (zǔmǔ) refers to the same family relationship in a more formal style and is common in written descriptions. For the maternal side, the corresponding formal word is 外祖母 (wàizǔmǔ). Do not treat 祖母 as a formal replacement for every use of the English word grandmother: the family branch still matters. A child calling across the room would normally use 奶奶 or 外婆, whereas a family history might describe someone as a 祖母 or 外祖母.
Use possession and direct address naturally
我奶奶 (wǒ nǎinai) and 我的奶奶 (wǒ de nǎinai) both mean my paternal grandmother. With close family relationships, Mandarin often leaves out 的 after the person, so the shorter form is normal speech. The same pattern gives 我外婆 (wǒ wàipó), my maternal grandmother. When speaking directly to her, simply use 奶奶 or 外婆 without adding 我. The polite pronoun 您 (nín) in the third example shows respect but does not change the relationship. When another person says 我奶奶, they mean their own paternal grandmother; the reference follows the speaker.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say grandmother in Chinese?
Use 奶奶 (nǎinai) for your father’s mother and 外婆 (wàipó) for your mother’s mother in everyday Mandarin.
What is the difference between 奶奶 and 外婆?
奶奶 is paternal and 外婆 is maternal. Choosing the wrong one can identify the wrong person in a family.
Is 祖母 the same as 奶奶?
Both refer to a paternal grandmother. 祖母 (zǔmǔ) is more formal and common in writing; 奶奶 is conversational. The formal maternal term is 外祖母 (wàizǔmǔ).
Does 姥姥 also mean grandmother?
Yes. 姥姥 (lǎolao) means maternal grandmother and is especially common in northern China. Families and regions may use different forms of address.
How do you say my grandmother?
Say 我奶奶 (wǒ nǎinai) for my paternal grandmother or 我外婆 (wǒ wàipó) for my maternal grandmother. Adding 的 after 我 is also correct.