老奶奶 (lǎo nǎi nai) — granny (respectful term for an elderly woman or… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Respectful way to refer to an elderly woman. Distinct from 奶奶, which is a family term for 'grandmother / great-grandmother' within your own family.

noun

granny (respectful term for an elderly woman or great-grandmother)

Measure word · 位

Examples

老奶奶。
Nà wèi lǎo nǎi nai yǐ jīng jiǔ shí duō suì le.
That old lady is already over ninety years old.
老奶奶。
lǎo nǎi nai Měi tiān zǎo shàng dōu zài gōng yuán lǐ sàn bù.
The old lady takes a walk in the park every morning.
老奶奶。
Zhè wèi lǎo nǎi nai zuò de cài fēi cháng hǎo chī.
The food this old lady makes is very delicious.

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.

老lǎorespectful

奶奶grandmother

奶nǎimother奶nǎimother

重叠Reduplication

老 lends respect to 奶奶, the familiar word for grandmother.

Characters in this word

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

人人rénman
毛毛máohair
匕匕bǐcane

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

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

女乃奶

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

乃

乃nǎi奶nǎi

Same sound today

奶 combines 女, a woman, and 乃, which gives the sound.

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

女乃奶

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

乃

乃nǎi奶nǎi

Same sound today

奶 combines 女, a woman, and 乃, which gives the sound.

Appears in

Family & Kinship Life Stages & Age

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.