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阿姨 (ā yí) — auntie (polite term of address for a woman of one's parents' generation); nanny, childcare worker, housekeeper (often used by children or families)

Definition

A friendly term of address for any woman of one's parents' generation, or for a nanny/housekeeper. Broader than 姨 (which is strictly mother's sister).

noun
auntie (polite term of address for a woman of one's parents' generation)nannychildcare workerhousekeeper (often used by children or families)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 阿姨。
    Wǒ jiā de ā yí měi tiān dōu gěi wǒ zuò fàn.
    Our nanny cooks for me every day.
  • 阿姨，？
    ā yí, Qǐng wèn zhè fù jìn yǒu yóu jú ma?
    Auntie, is there a post office near here?
  • 阿姨。
    Nà ge ā yí shì wǒ men xué xiào de lǎo shī.
    That auntie is a teacher at our school.

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.

阿āprefix
姨yímaternal aunt

阿 adds a familiar tone to 姨, a maternal aunt, forming a respectful term of address.

Characters in this word

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
阜阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
可
可kě阿ā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The part 阜 points to a mound, and 可 gives the pronunciation; 阿 originally meant a big mound.

Open 阿 →

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
夷
夷yí姨yí
Same sound today

姨 combines 女 (woman) with 夷, which gives the sound. The 女 part marks it as a woman-related word.

Open 姨 →
Appears in
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