老婆婆 (lǎo pó pó) — granny (respectful/affectionate term for an elderly woman); husband's mother, mother-in-law (from the wife's perspective)

Definition

Lǎo pópo has two distinct uses: an affectionate 'granny' for any elderly woman, and a wife speaking for her husband's mother (mother-in-law). Tone is warm and familiar, not formal.

noun
granny (respectful/affectionate term for an elderly woman)husband's mothermother-in-law (from the wife's perspective)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 老婆婆。
    Wǒ xiǎo shí hou cháng tīng lǎo pó pó jiǎng gù shi.
    I often listened to granny tell stories when I was a kid.
  • 老婆婆,。
    lǎo pó pó Duì wǒ hěn hǎo, jiù xiàng qīn mā ma yí yàng.
    My mother-in-law treats me very well, just like my own mother.
  • 老婆婆。
    Cūn lǐ de lǎo pó pó men dōu zuò zài shù xià liáo tiān.
    The old women in the village sat under the tree chatting.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

婆婆granny
婆póold woman婆póold woman
重叠Reduplication

老 gives a respectful or affectionate touch, and 婆婆 points to an elderly woman.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape 老 combines 人 (man), 毛 (hair), and 匕 (cane), showing a man with long hair leaning on a cane.

Open 老 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
波
波bō婆pó
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

婆 pairs 女 (woman) with 波, which gives the sound. The 女 part shows the character is about a woman.

Open 婆 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
波
波bō婆pó
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

婆 pairs 女 (woman) with 波, which gives the sound. The 女 part shows the character is about a woman.

Open 婆 →

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